Von Tobel, Neighbors, de Braga, Anderson, Lambert, Parks, Mortenson, Lee, Price, Hickey, Segerblom, Amodei, Humke, Giunchigliani, Berman, Hettrick, Tiffany, Williams, Evans, Dini, Cegavske, Bache, Braunlin, Ernaut and Goldwater
March 31, 1997
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Referred to Committee on Transportation
SUMMARY--Requires that certain vehicles be operated with lighted headlamps and limits requirement for protective headgear for drivers and passengers of motorcycles. (BDR 43-1306)
FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.
Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: No.
EXPLANATION - Matter in italics is new; matter in brackets [ ] is material to be omitted.
AN ACT relating to motorcycles; requiring that certain vehicles be operated with a lighted headlamp; limiting the requirement for protective headgear for drivers and passengers; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1 NRS 484.545 is hereby amended to read as follows:
484.545 1. Every vehicle upon a highway of this state at any time from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise and at any other time when, because of insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 1,000 feet ahead [shall] must display lighted lamps and illuminating devices as respectively required in this chapter for different classes of vehicles, subject to exceptions with respect to parked vehicles as stated in this chapter.
2. Every vehicle upon a highway [shall] must be equipped with stop lights, turn signals and other signaling devices to be lighted in the manner prescribed for the use of such devices.
3. In addition to the requirements set forth in subsections 1 and 2, a motorcycle, trimobile or moped upon a highway of this state must at all times display a lighted headlamp.
4. As used in this section, "trimobile" has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 482.129.
Sec. 2. NRS 486.231 is hereby amended to read as follows:
486.231 1. The department shall [adopt] :
(a) Adopt standards for [protective] :
(1) Protective headgear and protective glasses, goggles or face shields to be worn by the drivers and passengers of motorcycles ; and [transparent]
(2) Transparent windscreens for motorcycles.
(b) By regulation establish procedures pursuant to which a person who meets the requirements of subsection 6 may apply to the department and receive a sticker or decal that, when affixed to a motorcycle, provides a rebuttable presumption that the driver of the motorcycle qualifies for the exemption set forth in that subsection.
2. Except as otherwise provided in this section, when any motorcycle, except a trimobile or moped, is being driven on a highway, the driver and passenger shall wear protective headgear securely fastened on the head and protective glasses, goggles or face shields meeting those standards. Drivers and passengers of trimobiles shall wear protective glasses, goggles or face shields which meet those standards.
3. When a motorcycle or a trimobile is equipped with a transparent windscreen meeting those standards, the driver and passenger are not required to wear glasses, goggles or face shields.
4. When a motorcycle is being driven in a parade authorized by a local authority, the driver and passenger are not required to wear the protective devices provided for in this section.
5. When a three-wheel motorcycle, on which the driver and passengers ride within an enclosed cab, is being driven on a highway, the driver and passengers are not required to wear the protective devices required by this section.
6. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 8, a driver of a motorcycle is not required to wear protective headgear if he:
(a) Is licensed to drive a motorcycle;
(b) Has held a license to drive a motorcycle for at least 1 year;
(c) Is 25 years of age or older; and
(d) Possesses a valid policy of insurance that provides, for the driver and any passenger riding on the motorcycle, at least $10,000 in medical benefits for injuries sustained as a result of an accident while driving or riding on a motorcycle.
7. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 8, the passenger on a motorcycle is not required to wear protective headgear if:
(a) The passenger on the motorcycle is 25 years of age or older; and
(b) The driver of the motorcycle is not required to wear protective headgear.
8. The exceptions set forth in subsections 6 and 7 do not apply to a driver or passenger on a motorcycle being operated within a city or town whose population is more than 5,000.