MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Transportation

By: Representative Holden

House Bill 1194

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-64, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF SIXTEEN YEARS TO WEAR AN APPROVED BICYCLE HELMET WHEN OPERATING A BICYCLE ON ANY PUBLIC ROAD, STREET OR HIGHWAY IN THIS STATE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 63-7-64, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

63-7-64. (1) No person shall operate or ride upon any motorcycle or motor scooter upon the public roads or highways of this state unless such person is wearing on his or her head a crash helmet of the type and design inspected and approved by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. * * *

(2) (a) No person under the age of sixteen (16) years shall operate or be a passenger on a bicycle on any public road, street or highway in this state without wearing a bicycle helmet.

(b) For the purposes of this subsection, the term "bicycle helmet" means a piece of protective headgear which meets or exceeds the impact standards for bicycle helmets set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or the Snell Memorial Foundation.

(3) Violation of this section shall be deemed a violation of the traffic regulations and rules of the road and punishable as provided by Section 63-9-11.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.