Motorcycle Laws by State

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Motorcycle Laws by State

Postby kennedan » Tue May 20, 2008 12:59 pm

I found this site to be a very helpful summary of Motorcycle laws based on State:

http://home.ama-cycle.org/amaccess/laws/result.asp

I earned my motorcycle permit in NC and have done most of my touring in California, both of which allow motorcyclists to ride 2 abreast ... try that in VA and you could get a reckless driving ticket.
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Re: Motorcycle Laws by State

Postby Chiba » Tue May 20, 2008 1:39 pm

kennedan wrote:I earned my motorcycle permit in NC and have done most of my touring in California, both of which allow motorcyclists to ride 2 abreast ... try that in VA and you could get a reckless driving ticket.

Yet VA motor police do it ALL THE TIME. Go figure.

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Postby kennedan » Tue May 20, 2008 2:05 pm

It doesn't apply to "motorcades."

"shall not apply to any validly authorized parade, motorcade, or motorcycle escort, nor shall it apply to a motor vehicle traveling in the same lane of traffic as a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or moped."
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Postby Blaster229 » Tue May 20, 2008 2:09 pm

I am not motor guy and never have been. There may be a pretty good, moto-law enforcement aspect for riding that way. Hell, they throw atgatt out the door.
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Re: Motorcycle Laws by State

Postby henwin » Sat Jun 14, 2008 10:30 pm

chiba wrote:
kennedan wrote:I earned my motorcycle permit in NC and have done most of my touring in California, both of which allow motorcyclists to ride 2 abreast ... try that in VA and you could get a reckless driving ticket.

Yet VA motor police do it ALL THE TIME. Go figure.
--chiba


Well first of all, they have RADIOS! 2nd of all, they probably train together. 3rd of all they're better riders than 99.7% of us out here.

There are lots of laws that do not apply to police officers when they are working as police officers.
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Postby JonF » Sat Jun 14, 2008 10:39 pm

You can ride 2 abreast in MD too, but you cannot pass in the same lane.
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Re: Motorcycle Laws by State

Postby sundaeman » Sat Jun 14, 2008 11:03 pm

henwin wrote:
chiba wrote:
kennedan wrote:I earned my motorcycle permit in NC and have done most of my touring in California, both of which allow motorcyclists to ride 2 abreast ... try that in VA and you could get a reckless driving ticket.

Yet VA motor police do it ALL THE TIME. Go figure.
--chiba


Well first of all, they have RADIOS! 2nd of all, they probably train together. 3rd of all they're better riders than 99.7% of us out here.

There are lots of laws that do not apply to police officers when they are working as police officers.


I've spent some time with some of those guys. The ones I've seen are great riders. I only hope to have the time to get my skills that good.
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Postby Unity » Sun Jun 15, 2008 11:57 am

Police officers ride side-by-side to facilitate visual communication, a hand gesture being quicker than keying the radio and speaking. Or so a motocop told me. "I'll take this one, you get that one."

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Postby RockBottom » Tue Jun 24, 2008 8:52 pm

Anyone noticed what's in the background of the photo of the police edition on the BMW USA web site?

Image
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Postby Firebird » Tue Jun 24, 2008 10:12 pm

RockBottom wrote:Anyone noticed what's in the background of the photo of the police edition on the BMW USA web site?

Image


That's what they call "product placement" in the business. :lol:
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Postby Ben_Ricci » Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:03 am

RockBottom wrote:Anyone noticed what's in the background of the photo of the police edition on the BMW USA web site?

Image


I've seen this before. Someone has a great sense of humor with the "Runs On Any Fuel" headline suggesting: glazed, powdered, old-fashioned cake, jelly filled, etc. in addition to regular or premium. :lol:
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Postby DogHouse » Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:05 am

RockBottom wrote:Anyone noticed what's in the background of the photo of the police edition on the BMW USA web site?

Image


This pic looks like our hero finally found lunch :haha:
Image

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Postby streetdoc » Sat Jul 05, 2008 9:39 am

Here are the exemptions granted to all Emergency Vehicles in the Virginia Code and how and when they may be used:

§ 46.2-920. Certain vehicles exempt from regulations in certain situations; exceptions and additional requirements.

A. The driver of any emergency vehicle, when such vehicle is being used in the performance of public services, and when such vehicle is operated under emergency conditions, may, without subjecting himself to criminal prosecution:

1. Disregard speed limits, while having due regard for safety of persons and property;

2. Proceed past any steady or flashing red signal, traffic light, stop sign, or device indicating moving traffic shall stop if the speed of the vehicle is sufficiently reduced to enable it to pass a signal, traffic light, or device with due regard to the safety of persons and property;

3. Park or stop notwithstanding the other provisions of this chapter;

4. Disregard regulations governing a direction of movement of vehicles turning in specified directions so long as the operator does not endanger life or property;

5. Pass or overtake, with due regard to the safety of persons and property, another vehicle at any intersection;

6. Pass or overtake with due regard to the safety of persons and property, while en route to an emergency, stopped or slow-moving vehicles, by going to the left of the stopped or slow-moving vehicle either in a no-passing zone or by crossing the highway centerline; or

7. Pass or overtake with due regard to the safety of persons and property, while en route to an emergency, stopped or slow-moving vehicles, by going off the paved or main traveled portion of the roadway on the right. Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, vehicles exempted in this instance will not be required to sound a siren or any device to give automatically intermittent signals.

B. The exemptions granted to emergency vehicles by subsection A of this section shall apply only when the operator of such vehicle displays a flashing, blinking, or alternating emergency light or lights as provided in §§ 46.2-1022 and 46.2-1023 and sounds a siren, exhaust whistle, or air horn designed to give automatically intermittent signals, as may be reasonably necessary, and, only when there is in force and effect for such vehicle either (i) standard motor vehicle liability insurance covering injury or death to any person in the sum of at least $100,000 because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident and, subject to the limit for one person, to a limit of $300,000 because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident, and to a limit of $20,000 because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident or (ii) a certificate of self-insurance issued pursuant to § 46.2-368. Such exemptions shall not, however, protect the operator of any such vehicle from criminal prosecution for conduct constituting reckless disregard of the safety of persons and property. Nothing in this section shall release the operator of any such vehicle from civil liability for failure to use reasonable care in such operation.

C. For the purposes of this section, the term "emergency vehicle" shall mean:

1. Any law-enforcement vehicle operated by or under the direction of a federal, state, or local law-enforcement officer (i) in the chase or apprehension of violators of the law or persons charged with or suspected of any such violation or (ii) in response to an emergency call;

2. Any regional detention center vehicle operated by or under the direction of a correctional officer responding to an emergency call or operating in an emergency situation;

3. Any vehicle used to fight fire, including publicly owned state forest warden vehicles, when traveling in response to a fire alarm or emergency call;

4. Any ambulance, rescue, or life-saving vehicle designed or used for the principal purpose of supplying resuscitation or emergency relief where human life is endangered;

5. Any Department of Emergency Management vehicle or Office of Emergency Medical Services vehicle, when responding to an emergency call or operating in an emergency situation;

6. Any Department of Corrections vehicle designated by the Director of the Department of Corrections, when (i) responding to an emergency call at a correctional facility, (ii) participating in a drug-related investigation, (iii) pursuing escapees from a correctional facility, or (iv) responding to a request for assistance from a law-enforcement officer; and

7. Any vehicle authorized to be equipped with alternating, blinking, or flashing red or red and white secondary warning lights under the provisions of § 46.2-1029.2.

D. Any law-enforcement vehicle operated by or under the direction of a federal, state, or local law-enforcement officer may disregard speed limits, while having due regard for safety of persons and property, (i) in testing the accuracy of speedometers of such vehicles, (ii) in testing the accuracy of speed measuring devices specified in § 46.2-882, or (iii) in following another vehicle for the purpose of determining its speed.

E. A Department of Environmental Quality vehicle, while en route to an emergency and with due regard to the safety of persons and property, may overtake and pass stopped or slow-moving vehicles by going off the paved or main traveled portion of the highway on the right or on the left. These Department of Environmental Quality vehicles shall not be required to sound a siren or any device to give automatically intermittent signals, but shall display red or red and white warning lights when performing such maneuvers.

F. Any law-enforcement vehicle operated by or under the direction of a federal, state, or local law-enforcement officer while conducting a funeral escort, wide-load escort, dignitary escort, or any other escort necessary for the safe movement of vehicles and pedestrians may, without subjecting himself to criminal prosecution:

1. Disregard speed limits, while having due regard for safety of persons and property;

2. Proceed past any steady or flashing red signal, traffic light, stop sign, or device indicating moving traffic shall stop if the speed of the vehicle is sufficiently reduced to enable it to pass a signal, traffic light, or device with due regard for the safety of persons and property;

3. Park or stop notwithstanding the other provisions of this chapter;

4. Disregard regulations governing a direction of movement of vehicles turning in specified directions so long as the operator does not endanger life or property; or

5. Pass or overtake, with due regard for the safety of persons and property, another vehicle.

Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, vehicles exempted in this subsection may sound a siren or any device to give automatically intermittent signals.
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Postby Yellowjacket » Sat Jul 05, 2008 11:26 am

You can ride 2 abreast in MD too, but you cannot pass in the same lane.


I did not know MD allowed 2 abreast riding. I have followed the MSF guideline of a staggered formation and find that a reflex now.

Now I would love to learn to do a 180 tight turn like the LEO in the poster to that Dunkin Donuts.
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