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CONNECTICUT MOTORCYCLE LAWS. APPLICABLE TO RIDER COURSES. RIDERCOACH ACTIVITIES RiderCoaches will provide information : About obtaining motorcycle training permit Regarding the state’s personal gear requirements Regarding the state’s motorcycle equipment requirements
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CONNECTICUTMOTORCYCLE LAWS APPLICABLE TO RIDER COURSES
RIDERCOACH ACTIVITIES RiderCoaches will provide information : About obtaining motorcycle training permit Regarding the state’s personal gear requirements Regarding the state’s motorcycle equipment requirements regarding the state’s insurance requirements
DEFINITION • MOTORCYCLE IS A MOTOR VEHICLE: • With or without a side car • Having not more than three wheels in contact with the ground • Has a saddle or seat on which the rider sits OR a platform on which the rider stands • Vehicle having or designed to have a completely enclosed driver's seat and a motor which is not in the enclosed area • Motor produces more than five brake horsepower
MOTORCYCLE TRAINING PERMIT • 16 years of age or older • Must possess a Connecticut motor vehicle driver’s license • Has not had such a license suspended or revoked • Must pass vision and knowledge tests • Must present a parental consent form if under 18 years of age
PERMIT RESTRICTIONS • Must have motorcycle permit and driver’s license in possession while operating the motorcycle • Must wear Helmet*, Regardless of age • * U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT ) or National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) approved protective headgear • Cannot operate motorcycle on a multiple lane limited access highway • Cannot operate motorcycle at night • Cannot operate motorcycle out-of-state • Cannot carry passengers on motorcycle • Violation of the above 1ST Offense $35-$50 subsequent offenses not greater than $100 &/or no more than 30 days in Jail
VALID PERMIT PERIOD • 1. 60 days • May be renewed once in calendar year, • Get a new permit issued, for an additional 60 days
ENDORSEMENT • Applicant has not had an endorsement within the preceding 2 years • An applicant for a motorcycle endorsement must successfully complete a novice motorcycle training course that is offered by DOT or any other firm or organization using MSF curriculum or that has developed a curriculum approved by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles • Has sufficient knowledge of the mechanism of a motorcycle to ensure its safe operation • Applicant has satisfactory knowledge of the law concerning motorcycles and other motor vehicles and the rules of the road • Must pass vision and knowledge tests, or possess a permit • Prohibited from transport passengers for 90 days after obtaining a motorcycle endorsement
ENDORSEMENT • Applicant has not had an endorsement within the preceding 2 years • An applicant for a motorcycle endorsement must successfully complete a novice motorcycle training course that is approved by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles • Has sufficient knowledge of the mechanism of a motorcycle to ensure its safe operation • Applicant has satisfactory knowledge of the law concerning motorcycles and other motor vehicles and the rules of the road • Must pass vision and knowledge tests, or possess a permit • Prohibited from transport passengers for 90 days after obtaining a motorcycle endorsement
ENDORSEMENT POWERS • If applicant has license/endorsement from another state where a similar examination or course is required, the commissioner may waive part or all of any such requirement • The commissioner may issue unlimited or limited endorsements based on satisfaction of applicant’s ability and competency • Health problems which might affect person's ability to operate a motorcycle safely, may require personal demonstration of operating a motorcycle • Commissioner may issue a limited endorsement requiring a designated medical authority signed certificate of the applicant's condition. Certificate is treated confidentially • Commissioner can suspend or refuse an endorsement to anyone, deemed incapable of safely operating a motorcycle • Violation of the above 1ST Offense $35-$50 subsequent offenses not greater than $100 &/or no more than 30 days in Jail
16-17 YEAR OLD RESTRICTIONS • Prohibited from carrying passengers for six months after obtaining a motorcycle endorsement • Cannot operate a motorcycle at or after 11:00 p.m. until and including 5:00 a.m. of the following day unless • Such person is traveling for his or her employment or school or religious activities • There is a medical necessity for such travel
PERSONAL GEAR REQUIREMENTS MANDATORY: HEADGEAR(conditional) VISION PROTECTION
PROTECTIVE HEADGEAR • (On and after January 1, 1990) • 16 & 17 years olds must wear to operate a motorcycle or a motor-driven cycle • Passengers under 18 must wear • Failure to meet above is an infraction and shall be fined not less than $90.00 • Operating under a permit must wear Helmet, Regardless of age • Must meet U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT ) or National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) approved standards • Violation of the above 1ST Offense $35-$50 subsequent offenses not greater than $100 &/or no more than 30 days in Jail
VISION-PROTECTING DEVICES • Must wear vision protection such as goggles, glasses, face shields • Does not apply to operators of motorcycles equipped with a wind screen or windshield which conforms to the minimum specifications • **DMV Commissioner regulates specifications for vision-protecting devices in accordance with nationally accepted standards
MOTORCYCLE EQUIPMENT Head lamps Fenders Handlebars Brakes Mufflers Tail Lights Reflectors Stop lamps Turn signals
HEAD LAMPS • Have at least one and not more than two head lamps • Every head lamp shall be located at a mounted height of not less than 24 inches not more than 54 inches • Single-beam or Multiple-beam head lamps • Sufficient intensity to reveal a person or vehicle at: • Not less than 100 feet at less than 25 MPH • Not less than 200 feet at greater than 25 MPH • Not less than 300 feet at greater than 35 MPH • High Beam at least 500 FT • Shall illuminate the head lamp at all times when operating a motorcycle manufactured after January 1, 1980
HEAD LAMPS • BEAM REQUIREMENTS: • For all conditions of loading. The uppermost distribution of light for high beam is aimed and of sufficient intensity to reveal a person or vehicle at least 500 FT • When loaded, a low single-beam lamp is aimed that none of the high-intensity portion of light, projects higher than the level of the center of the lamp at a distance of 25 feet ahead.
FENDERS • Equipped with fenders on all wheels which come into contact with the highway • HANDLEBARS • For motorcycles operating on highway or in any parking area for 10 or more motor vehicles • No more than the height of the operator's shoulders
Brakes • Model year 1974 or later shall be equipped with brakes on both the front and rear wheels. except the wheel or wheels on a sidecar • Brakes shall be maintained in good working order at all times • Capable of bringing the motorcycle to a controlled stop in distance and conditions prescribed by the DMV Commissioner
MUFFLER • Must have a muffler(s) with interior baffle plates or other effective muffling devices • No gutted muffler, muffler cutout or a straight exhaust • Except- When operated in a race, contest ordemonstration of speed or skill as a public exhibition • Cannot remove all or any part of a muffler except to repair or replace the muffler or replace a part that is more effective in noise prevention • Cannot add any extension or device on an exhaust system or tail pipe which will cause excessive or unusual noise
Tail Lights & Registration Light • Have at least one tail lamp mounted on the rear • When lighted shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of 1000 feet to the rear • Shall be located at a mounted height not less than 15 inches and not more than 72 inches • Rear registration plate shall be so illumined with a white light as to render it clearly legible from a distance of 50 feet to the rear • Registration Light is wired as to be lighted whenever the head lamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted
REFLECTORS • Have at least one reflector either as a part of the tail lamps or separate • Mounted at a height not less than 15 inches and not more than 60 inches size • Be of size to be visible at night from all distances within 350 feet • Seen 100 feet from such vehicle when directly in front of upper beams of head lamps
STOP LAMPS • Equipped with at least one stop lamp • TURN SIGNALS • Display a red or amber light, or any shade of color between red and amber • Visible from a Distance of not less than 300 feet to the rear in normal sunlight • Equipped with a turn signal lamp or lamps complying with the requirements of the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Section 571.108, as amended
INSURANCE MINIMUMS • 20/40/10 Personal/Accidental/Property • Claim for damages: • By reason of personal injury to, or the death of, any one person, of $20,000 • By reason of personal injury to, or the death of, more than one person on account of any accident, of at least $40,000 • Damage to property of at least $10,000 • An exclusion in personal injury coverage for passengers
INSURANCE DISCOUNT • Minimum discount of 10% on premium charges for liability insurance policies for motorcycles • Applicable for a period of five years from the original effective date of the discount
INSURANCE DISCOUNT ELIGIBILITY • Proof of successful completion of the novice or advanced motorcycle training course offered by the Department of Transportation • Course shall be completed within one year prior to the initial application of the discount • If proof of successful completion is submitted during the term of a policy, any premium modification shall become effective upon the next renewal • Not be applicable to physical damage insurance coverage
INFRACTION FINES • Riding without an endorsement or violation of permit restrictions: • 1ST Offense $35-$50 subsequent offenses not greater than $100 &/or no more than 30 days in Jail • Under 18 year old helmet requirement violations • fined not less than $90.00 • Judges of the Superior Court establish and maintain a schedule of fines deemed to be infractions by Connecticut General Statutes of: • NOT LESS THAN $35.00 • NOT GREATER THAN $90.00
PASSENGERS • May not transport passengers for 90 days after obtaining endorsement • 16 and 17-year-old drivers are prohibited from carrying passengers for six months after obtaining a motorcycle endorsement • Motorcycle must be properly equipped to carry more than one person, a permanent or regular seat • Motorcycle has another seat firmly attached to the rear or side of the operator • Passengers are prohibited from riding sidesaddle on a motorcycle
LANE OPERATION OF MOTORCYCLES • Motorcycle is entitled to the full use of any single traffic lane • Prohibits the operation of more than two motorcycles abreast in any single traffic lane • Shall not overtake and pass, in the same single traffic lane, any motor vehicle other than a motorcycle • Shall not operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic • Permitted in a High Occupancy Vehicle(HOV) Lane