CVC 27803(a)Eligible for written declarationCorrectable · Fix under CVC 40522

Motorcycle Helmet Violation

A driver or passenger on a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle or motorized bicycle not wearing a safety helmet that meets the requirements set under Vehicle Code 27802.

Reviewed by the TicketClear teamLast reviewed October 10, 2026

Fine: $193, or $25 if correctedDMV Points: Check with the DMV✓ Correctable

DMV points: we have not confirmed whether a conviction adds a point. Check with the DMV.

This guide is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. TicketClear is a self-help document preparation service — we are not attorneys and do not represent clients. Review all prepared documents carefully before submitting. Fine amounts are estimates and vary by county and surcharge schedule.

What is a Motorcycle Helmet Violation ticket?

CVC 27803(a) says a driver and any passenger shall wear a safety helmet meeting requirements established under Section 27802 when riding on a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, or motorized bicycle. Under 27803(d), the section applies to persons riding on motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, or motorized bicycles operated on the highways. Under 27803(e), wearing a safety helmet means having a helmet meeting Section 27802 on the person's head, fastened as the section describes.

Ask your insurer how a conviction affects your policy. For DMV points, check with the DMV.

What the Law Says

(a) A driver and any passenger shall wear a safety helmet meeting requirements established pursuant to Section 27802 when riding on a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, or motorized bicycle.

What the Officer Must Prove

1You were riding on a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, or motorized bicycle operated on a highway
2You were not wearing a safety helmet meeting the requirements of Section 27802 as CVC 27803(e) describes: on your head, fastened with the helmet straps, and of a size that fits your head securely without excessive lateral or vertical movement

Arguments Commonly Raised for Motorcycle Helmet Violation

General information: arguments drivers commonly raise for this code section. Whether any applies depends on your own facts.

Helmet met the requirements

If your helmet met the requirements of Section 27802, was on your head, was fastened with the straps, and fit your head securely without excessive lateral or vertical movement (27803(e)), describe it and include photos of its labels.

Not on a highway

CVC 27803(d) says the section applies to riding on vehicles operated on the highways. Describe where you were.

Fully enclosed three-wheeled vehicle

CVC 27803(f) says the section does not apply to a person operating, or riding as a passenger in, a fully enclosed three-wheeled motor vehicle at least seven feet long and four feet wide with an unladen weight of 900 pounds or more, if the vehicle meets the requirements of the Vehicle Code and the federal safety standards and regulations the subdivision lists.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

✗Not keeping photos of the helmet's labels
✗Leaving out where you were riding

What this code section covers (general information)

CVC 27803(a) — Motorcycle Helmet Violation. A driver or passenger on a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle or motorized bicycle not wearing a safety helmet that meets the requirements set under Vehicle Code 27802.

This is a fixed-rule section: it describes a specific act or limit. The question is whether the facts show that act: what happened, where, and how it was observed or measured.

Eligible for Trial by Written Declaration: generally yes.

This is general information about CVC 27803(a). It is not advice about your citation, and TicketClear does not evaluate anyone's facts. Whether any of it applies depends on your own facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed California attorney.

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Related Violations

CVC 27801 CVC 27315