Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Are helmets required for 3W riders in US States?

Update on helmets/3 wheelers/and New York State...three weeks ago I was pulled over by a NY State Trooper. In a nutshell he informed me that motorcycle registration means helmet use is required, I was in no frame to discuss as he was letting me off so long as I popped a helmet on and I was late on my inspection (Our version of MOT). Oh well...

Check with on line DMV and get a copy of the spec's. I'll bet the trooper was wrong. I carry a copy of the California rule in the 3 wheeler. In CA our cars exceed the length, and width requirements, and we don't sit ON them we sit IN them., but then we all know everybody out here is a little crazy? Good luck!

I would argue with the NY trooper. I checked here in Missouri and the trooper on the phone asked how many wheels and I told him three. He said motorcycle and a helmet is required. I then told him about the car seats, steering wheel and shoulder belts. His next question was how many wheels......... MOTORCYCLE and a helmet will be required.

I know some states have exemptions for larger etc that take the trike out of the normal motorcycle laws, but most states with helmet laws require the helmet regardless seating and steering nature of the vehicle.

So if the trooper says helmet, and it's a helmet state, I personally would not dispute his request and I'd helmet up. I would not try to prove a point on the road, but read and check the laws without the trooper present etc.

Dan, That's exactly what I did, just have not had time to delve into the recesses of the NY DMV laws, but I have all winter (If it ever arrives!) to search...
C & HM,
Jim

depends on the state, some states dont even require helmets for motorcycles, they just require you to carry insurance. Im in one such state and its always fun to see what happens to the human head when it hits the pavement or by foreign object at 60+ MPH.

Just think about all of that when you consider the idea of riding without.

I've seen what happens if someone hits a safety sign post with his face at about 40 mph whilst wearing an open face helmet. That was enough for me. I came along just after it happened. Bike on the road, girlfriend unhurt but in shock and couldn't stop crying, friend on another bike in deep shock and his girlfriend who could not stop crying either. The guy on the ground was beyond help.

Very sad and mainly due to a badly placed safety sign just off the end of the guard rail. The guy had taken the corner just a fraction too fast and slid along the guard rail straight into the post.

I spoke to someone at the local road depot but the kept putting the post back in the same place. I passed every day with my truck and pushed it over with the bumper on the truck until they finally got the message and put the sign safely behind the guard rail.

Not something I ever want to see again and it convinced me that my decission to always wear a full face helmet whilst riding a bike was the correct choice.

Got me thinking...I feel claustrophobic in a full face. I wear a Shoei J Cruise 3/4. Md says you don't need a motorcycle helmet if in an enclosed body. I guess that too is open to interpretation on a M3W. I've shown pics to a few cop friends who said they'd never pull it over for lack of a helmet, but that's not every cop either.

In an M3W I would wear an open face helmet and a visor, or goggles, or safety eye wear, such as available for shooters. I actually have a pair of such glasses with interchangeable lens; clear, yellow, and smoke. I wear them with the clear lens for night driving with the top down.

The point being is that you are restrained by the seatbelts and the extra extra field of vision given by an open face helmet would be desireable, plus the possibility of a serious face impact is very small.

You can find some very nice leather covered open face helmets that would still meet legal requirements and look fairly good too.

I found the California code:

27803. (a) A driver and any passenger shall wear a safety helmet
meeting requirements established pursuant to Section 27802 when
riding on a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, or motorized bicycle.
(b) It is unlawful to operate a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, or
motorized bicycle if the driver or any passenger is not wearing a
safety helmet as required by subdivision (a).
(c) It is unlawful to ride as a passenger on a motorcycle,
motor-driven cycles, or motorized bicycle if the driver or any
passenger is not wearing a safety helmet as required by subdivision
(a).
(d) This section applies to persons who are riding on motorcycles,
motor-driven cycles, or motorized bicycles operated on the highways.
(e) For the purposes of this section, "wear a safety helmet" or
"wearing a safety helmet" means having a safety helmet meeting the
requirements of Section 27802 on the person's head that is fastened
with the helmet straps and that is of a size that fits the wearing
person's head securely without excessive lateral or vertical
movement.
(f) This section does not apply to a person operating, or riding
as a passenger in, a fully enclosed three-wheeled motor vehicle that
is not less than seven feet in length and not less than four feet in
width, and has an unladen weight of 900 pounds or more, if the
vehicle meets or exceeds all of the requirements of this code, the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, and the rules and regulations
adopted by the United States Department of Transportation and the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Ahhhhhh..."fully enclosed". Wanna interpret if a M3W meets that?