HB 1809 — An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in special vehicles and pedestrians, further providing for protective equipment for motorcycle riders; and imposing penalties.

PRINTER'S NO.   2224

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1809
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY GUZMAN, SANCHEZ, HILL-EVANS, BOROWSKI, CEPEDA-
        FREYTIZ, VENKAT, OTTEN, SAMUELSON, K.HARRIS AND DOUGHERTY,
        AUGUST 18, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, AUGUST 19, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 2      Statutes, in special vehicles and pedestrians, further
 3      providing for protective equipment for motorcycle riders; and
 4      imposing penalties.
 5      The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
 6          (1)   Motorcycle crashes continue to result in preventable
 7      fatalities and traumatic brain injuries.
 8          (2)   States with universal helmet laws report
 9      significantly lower rates of motorcycle-related deaths and
10      public health costs.
11          (3)   A consistent, Statewide helmet mandate will simplify
12      enforcement and better protect all road users.
13          (4)   Aligning Pennsylvania law with national best
14      practices will improve public health outcomes and reduce the
15      financial burden on the health care system and taxpayers.
16      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
17   hereby enacts as follows:
18      Section 1.    Section 3525 of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania
 1   Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
 2   § 3525.    Protective equipment for motorcycle riders.
 3      (a)    Protective headgear.--[Except as provided in subsection
 4   (d), no person shall operate or ride upon a motorcycle or a
 5   motor-driven cycle (other than a motorized pedalcycle) unless he
 6   is wearing] Each person operating or riding as a passenger on a
 7   motorcycle or motor-driven cycle shall wear protective headgear
 8   which complies with standards established by the department.
 9      [(b)    Eye-protective devices.--No person shall operate or
10   ride upon a motorcycle (other than a motorized pedalcycle or a
11   three-wheeled motorcycle equipped with an enclosed cab) unless
12   he is wearing an eye-protective device of a type approved by the
13   department.
14      (c)    Approval of equipment.--The department may approve or
15   disapprove protective headgear and eye-protective devices
16   required under this section and may issue and enforce
17   regulations establishing standards and specifications for the
18   approval of the headgear and devices. The department shall
19   publish lists of all protective headgear and eye-protective
20   devices by name and type which have been approved.
21      (d)    Exception.--The provisions of subsection (a) shall not
22   apply to the following:
23             (1)   The operator or any occupant of a three-wheeled
24      motorcycle equipped with an enclosed cab.
25             (2)   A person 21 years of age or older who has been
26      licensed to operate a motorcycle for not less than two full
27      calendar years.
28             (3)   A person 21 years of age or older who has completed
29      a motorcycle rider safety course approved by the department
30      or the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.

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 1            (4)   The passenger of a person exempt under this
 2      subsection if the passenger is 21 years of age or older.]
 3      (e)   Penalties.--A person who violates this section:
 4            (1)   Shall pay a fine of $100 for a first offense.
 5            (2)   Shall pay a fine of $200 for a second or subsequent
 6      violation.
 7            (3)   Shall not receive any penalty points for a violation
 8      of this section.
 9      (f)   Applicability.--This section shall apply to each
10   motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, including three-wheeled
11   motorcycles, unless fully enclosed, regardless of operator age,
12   experience or licensing.
13      Section 2.    All acts and parts of acts are repealed insofar
14   as they are inconsistent with the amendment of 75 Pa.C.S. §
15   3525.
16      Section 3.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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