{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-189.285","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 189.285","heading":"Regulations for operating and riding on motorcycles -- Headgear","body":"requirements -- Definitions of motorcycle and moped.\n(1) A person shall not operate a motorcycle on a highway:\n(a) Except when that person is in possession of a valid motorcycle operator' s\nlicense; and\n(b) Unless that person uses an approved eye -protective device, in the manner\nprescribed by the secretary of the Transportation Cabinet, at all times such\nvehicle is in motion; and\n(c) Unless the motorcycle is equipped with a rear -view mirror as required under\nKRS 189.130.\n(2) A person shall not operate or ride as a passenger on a motorcycle:\n(a) Except on a seat permanently attached to that vehicle and specifically\ndesigned to carry the operator or passenger in a safe manner; and\n(b) Except w hen using a footrest permanently attached to that vehicle and\nspecifically designed to carry that person in a safe manner.\n(3) The following persons shall be required to wear protective headgear, in the manner\nprescribed by the secretary of the Transportat ion Cabinet, at all times the\nmotorcycles they are riding are in motion on a public highway:\n(a) A person under the age of twenty -one (21) years who is operating a\nmotorcycle or who is a passenger on a motorcycle or in a sidecar attachment;\n(b) A person who possesses a motorcycle instruction permit and who is operating\na motorcycle; and\n(c) A person who has held a valid motorcycle operator's license, or combination\nmotor vehicle -motorcycle operator's license, for less than one (1) year and\nwho is operating a motorcycle.\n(4) A motorcycle operator authorized to drive a motorcycle on an instruction permit\nshall not be authorized to carry passengers.\n(5) The secretary of the Transportation Cabinet shall by regulation fix minimum\nstandards for approved protective headgear and for approved eye-protective devices,\nand prescribe the manner in which they shall be used. The secretary shall maintain\nand cause to be published a list of approved protective headgear and of approved\neye-protective devices. The secretary may  prescribe by regulation minimum\nstandards for other protective devices and require the use of those devices.\n(6) As used in this chapter:\n(a) \"Motorcycle\" means any motor-driven vehicle having a seat or saddle for the\nuse of the operator and designed to travel on not more than three (3) wheels in\ncontact with the ground, but excluding tractors and vehicles on which the\noperator and passengers ri de in an enclosed cab and excluding a moped as\ndefined in this subsection; and\n(b) \"Moped\" means either a motorized bicycle whose frame design may include\none (1) or more horizontal crossbars supporting a fuel tank so long as it also\nhas pedals, or a motor ized bicycle with a step -through type frame which may\nor may not have pedals rated no more than two (2) brake horsepower, a\ncylinder capacity not exceeding fifty (50) cubic centimeters, an automatic\ntransmission not requiring clutching or shifting by the o perator after the drive\nsystem is engaged, and capable of a maximum speed of not more than thirty\n(30) miles per hour.","path":["KRS Chapter 189"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=6361","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:51:42Z","sha256":"d3469362a1e8aad6aa5310e915453086924daecd05612535d1260b73b2c0f3ff","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-189.284","next":"us-ky/krs-189.2851"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}