Safety equipment and requirements for motorcyclists and motorcycles.
Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-364
in effectSec. 114-364. - Safety equipment and requirements for motorcyclists and motorcycles.
(a) No person shall operate or be a passenger on any motorcycle unless he is wearing securely fastened on his head by either a neck or chin strap a protective helmet designed to deflect blows, resist penetration and spread impact forces. Any helmet worn by a motorcycle operator or motorcycle passenger shall meet the performance specifications established by the United States of America Standards Institute. Specifications for Protective Headgear for Vehicle Users, Standard Z 90.1-1966. Helmets worn by motorcycle operators and motorcycle passengers shall be coated with a reflectorized substance or have attached a reflectorized material, on both sides and the back, with a minimum of ten square inches of coated substance or attached material in each of the three locations.
(b) No person shall operate or be a passenger on any motorcycle unless he is wearing safety, shatter-resistant eyeglasses (excluding contact lenses), or eye goggles or face shield that complies with the performance specifications established by the United States of America Standards Institute, Specifications for Head, Eye and Respiratory Protection Z 2.1-1959. In addition, if any motorcycle is equipped with a windshield or windscreen, the windshield or windscreen shall be constructed of safety, shatter-resistant material that complies with the performance specifications established by the United States of America Standards Institute, Safety Glazing Materials for Glazing Motor Vehicles Operated on Land Highways, Standard Z-26.1-1966.
(c) No person shall operate a motorcycle on which the handlebars or grips are more than 15 inches higher than the uppermost part of the operator's seat when the seat is not depressed in any manner.
(d) A person operating a motorcycle shall ride in a seated position facing forward and only upon a permanent operator's seat attached to the motorcycle. No operator shall carry any other person nor shall any other person ride on a motorcycle unless the motorcycle is designed to carry more than one person, in which event a passenger may ride behind the operator upon the permanent operator's seat if it is designed for two persons, or upon another seat firmly attached to the motorcycle to the rear of the operator's seat and equipped with footrests designed and located for use by the passenger or in a sidecar firmly attached to the motorcycle. No more than two persons, the motorcycle operator and one passenger, shall ride the same motorcycle at the same time. No person shall ride sidesaddle on a motorcycle seat.
(Code 1975, § 31-50)
Source: City of Charleston, West Virginia, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wv/charleston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH114TROR_ARTVIVEOP_DIV1GE_S114-364SAEQREMOMOFetched: 11/7/2026