31-5-115. Operation of motorcycles, autocycles and pedestrian vehicles.

(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 (1) person, in which event a passenger may ride upon the permanent and regular seat if designed for two (2) 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, with one (1) leg on each side of the motorcycle.

(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, or obstructs his vision, or interferes with the operation of the motorcycle.

(d) No operator shall carry any person, nor shall any person ride in a position that will interfere with the 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. Two (2) motorcycles may be driven abreast in the same lane by consent of both motorcycle drivers. One (1) autocycle may be driven per lane.

(f) The operator of a motorcycle shall not overtake and pass any vehicle in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken, except another motorcycle. The operator of a motorcycle overtaking another motorcycle in the same lane shall first match the speed of the motorcycle 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 do not apply to police officers in the performance of their official duties.

(j) Motorcycles shall not be operated three (3) or more abreast in a single lane.

(k) No person riding upon a motorcycle shall attach himself or the motorcycle to any other moving vehicle on a roadway. This does not prohibit attaching a motorcycle trailer or motorcycle semitrailer to a motorcycle if the trailer or semitrailer was designed for the attachment.

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

(n) No person shall operate any motorcycle with handlebars so positioned that the hands of the operator, when upon the grips, are above shoulder height when the operator is sitting astride the vehicle seat with the vehicle in an upright position.

(o) 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. This subsection does not apply to persons riding within an enclosed cab nor to persons operating or riding a moped. This subsection only applies to motorcycles used on public highways, streets and thoroughfares.

(p) Any person operating a motorcycle or pedestrian vehicle shall have the headlamps of the motorcycle or pedestrian vehicle activated at all times, including daylight hours.

(q) Operators of motorcycles operating in an officially authorized parade are exempt from subsections (e) through (o) of this section.

(r) The superintendent is authorized to approve or disapprove protective headgear required herein, and to issue and enforce regulations establishing standards and specifications for the approval thereof and to the sale and use of the equipment as provided in W.S. 31-5-932 through 31-5-934 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.

(s) This section applies to motor-driven cycles unless otherwise provided.

(t) Subsections (b) through (d), (n), (o) and (r) of this section shall not apply to autocycles.