This act provides that persons under the age of 18 who are operating or riding as a passenger on a motorcycle or motortricycle shall wear a helmet when the vehicle is in motion. Similarly, a person who is 18 or older, is operating a motorcycle or motortricycle, and who has been issued an instruction permit shall wear a helmet when the vehicle is in motion. No political subdivision of the state shall impose a protective headgear requirement on the operator or passenger of a motorcycle or motortricycle. No person shall be stopped, inspected, or detained solely to determine compliance with these provisions. (Section 302.020.2)

This act also provides that qualified operators who are 18 or older may operate a motorcycle or motortricycle without a helmet if he or she is covered by a health insurance policy or other form of insurance which will provide the person with medical benefits for injuries incurred as a result of a motorcycle or motortricycle accident. Proof of such coverage shall be provided on request of law enforcement by showing a copy of the qualified operator's insurance card. No person shall be stopped, inspected, or detained solely to determine compliance with these provisions. (Section 302.026)

This act is similar to SCS/SB 590 (2020), HB 2193 (2020), provisions in HCS/SB 686 (2020), provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS#2/HCS/SCS/SB 147 (2019), similar to SCS/SB 120 (2019), HB 522 (2019), HB 2158 (2018), SB 556 (2018), SB 323 (2017), and HB 535 (2017), and similar to provisions in HB 235 (2017), HCS/HB 576 (2017), HB 588 (2017), HB 1371 (2016), SCS/HB 1464 (2016), HB 1657 (2016), HB 1663 (2016), HB 1749 (2016), HB 2719 (2016), HB 2720 (2016), and SCS/SBs 851 & 694 (2016).

ERIC VANDER WEERD