§ 12-17. Motorcycles.

A. 

A person operating a motorcycle shall ride only upon the permanent and regular seat attached thereto and shall not 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 upon the permanent and regular seat, if designed for two persons, or upon another seat firmly attached to the motorcycle at the rear or side of the operator.

B. 

A person shall ride upon a motorcycle only while sitting astride the seat, facing forward.

C. 

No person shall operate a motorcycle while carrying any package, bundle or other article which prevents him from keeping both hands on the handlebars, obstructs his vision or interferes with the safe operation of the motorcycle.

D. 

No operator shall carry any person so as to, nor shall any person ride in a position that will, interfere with the safe operation or control of the motorcycle or the view of the operator.

E. 

All motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane, and no motor vehicle shall be driven in such a manner as to deprive any motorcycle of the full use of a lane. This subsection shall not apply to motorcycles operated two abreast in a single lane.

F. 

The operator of a motorcycle shall not overtake and pass any vehicle except a single motorcycle in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken.

G. 

No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles.

H. 

Subsections F and G of this section shall not apply to police officers in the performance of their official duties.

I. 

Motorcycles shall not be operated more than two abreast in a single lane.

J. 

No person riding upon a motorcycle shall attach himself or the motorcycle to any other moving vehicle on a roadway.

K. 

Any motorcycle carrying a passenger, other than in a sidecar or enclosed cab, shall be equipped with footrests for the passenger.

L. 

No person shall operate any motorcycle with handlebars more than fifteen inches in height above the portion of the seat occupied by the operator.

M. 

No minor shall operate or ride, nor shall the operator permit a minor to ride, upon a motorcycle unless he is wearing protective headgear securely fastened on his head, and of a type which complies with standards established by the superintendent of the Wyoming Department of Transportation. This subsection shall not apply to persons riding within an enclosed cab or to persons operating or riding a moped. This subsection shall only apply to motorcycles used on public highways, streets and thoroughfares.

N. 

Any person operating a motorcycle or pedestrian vehicle shall have the head lamps of the motorcycle or pedestrian vehicle activated at all times, including daylight hours.

O. 

Operators of motorcycles operating in an officially authorized parade shall be exempt from subsections E through M of this section.

P. 

The state highway commission is authorized to approve or disapprove protective headgear and eye protective devices required herein, and to issue and enforce regulations establishing standards and specifications for the approval thereof and relating to the sale and use of such equipment as provided in Wyoming Statutes, 1977, sections 31-5-937, 31-5-938 and 31-5-939 for other vehicle safety equipment. The standard for protective headgear shall meet or exceed the Z90.1-1971 standard of the American National Standards Institute. However, all existing equipment meeting the Z90.1-1966 standard of the American National Standards Institute shall be accepted.

Q. 

The provisions of this section apply to mopeds, unless otherwise provided.

Amended by Ord. No. 91-11