I live in Vermont where a helmet should be required but it is ignored. Next door in New Hampshire one can ride any motorcycle without a helmet as long as you are 18 or older. I keep a helmet for when I cross into New York. Aside from an old tradition of the New York troopers shaking down Vermont drivers whenever possible they are sticklers for the helmet laws. I keep the Blau Beastie up on insurance and inspections and totally legal for this very reason.
When I was ticketed in Vermont the trooper did not want to even deal with the helmet/seatbelt item. He just wrote me up for speeding. He tacitly agreed with me that if I hit something at speed or get hit at speed then it is over/done for me helmet or not.
