• Colorado motorcyclists and passengers under the age of 18 must wear helmets.latina rider image by Leticia Wilson from Fotolia.com
  
  While the state of Colorado strongly urges its citizens and the citizens of other states who use its roads to ride safely, it is one of a handful of states that does not explicitly require motorcyclists over the age of 18 to wear a helmet. For passengers or operators under the age of 18, helmets are mandated.
  
  

Love v. Bell

• Colorado was once one of the states that enacted a universal mandatory motorcycle helmet law. All motorcycle operators and passengers were required to wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle on Colorado roads. This changed in 1970 when Joseph Bell and the Colorado Motorcycle Association brought the question of the constitutionality of universal motorcycle helmet laws to the Supreme Court of Colorado. They brought a class action suit against the people of Colorado, naming Governor John A. Love as the principal defendant.
  
  While some parts of the law were allowed to stand, most of the motorcycle helmet law was struck down after the court found it unconstitutional.
  
  

Statute 42-4-1502

• According to Statute 42-4-1502 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, each person on a motorcycle under the age of 18 must wear a protective helmet secured with a chin strap at any time that the motorcycle is in motion. Helmets must meet or exceed the safety standards set by the United States Department of Transportation. Violators can be charged with a class A traffic infraction.
  
  While some motorcyclists may not have to wear a helmet, Colorado does require all motorcyclists, including passengers, to wear goggles or special safety glasses or a face shield.
  
  

Infraction Penalties

• In Colorado, conviction of a class A traffic infraction can bring a minimum penalty of $15 or a maximum penalty of $100.
  
  

Colorado Traumatic Brain Injury Trust Fund Program

• In addition to the regular penalty given for a class A traffic infraction, those who are found guilty of violating Colorado's motorcycle helmet laws can be given an additional $15 surcharge that goes to the Colorado Traumatic Injury Trust Fund.