Every person operating a motorcycle shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the drivers of motor vehicles, except as to special regulations or other provisions of law which by their nature would not apply.

Comment: If you are riding from South Carolina into Virginia please keep in mind that it is considered reckless driving to operate two motorcycles abreast in a single lane. The only other state which makes this illegal is Vermont.

Comment: The rule is that if you have a passenger you must have footrests for them.    Contrary to popular belief there is no requirement that the passengers use the footrests or even be able to reach them. However, the bike must be equipped with them. Additionally, a single rear view mirror meets the requirements of this statute. 

It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of twenty-one to operate or ride upon a two-wheeled motorized vehicle unless he wears a protective helmet of a type approved by the Department of Public Safety. Such a helmet must be equipped with either a neck or chin strap and be reflectorized on both sides thereof. The department is hereby authorized to adopt and amend regulations covering the types of helmets and the specifications therefore and to establish and maintain a list of approved helmets which meet the specifications as established hereunder.

It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of twenty-one to operate a two-wheeled motorized vehicle unless he wears goggles or a face shield of a type approved by the Department of Public Safety. The department is hereby authorized to adopt and amend regulations covering types of goggles and face shields and the specifications therefore and to establish and maintain a list of approved goggles and face shields which meet the specifications as established hereunder.

The provisions of Section 56-5-3670 with respect to goggles and face shields shall not apply to the operator of a two-wheeled motorized vehicle equipped with a wind screen meeting specifications established by the Department of Public Safety. The department is hereby authorized to adopt and amend regulations covering types of wind screens and specifications therefore.

It shall be unlawful to sell, offer for sale or distribute any protective helmets, goggles or face shields for use by the operators of two-wheeled motorized vehicles, or protective helmets for the use of passengers thereon, unless they are of a type and specification approved by the Department of Public Safety and appear on the list of approved devices maintained by the department.

Any person violating the provisions of §§ 56-5-3660 to 56-5-3690 shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars or be imprisoned for not more than thirty days.