"Profiling for Bikers Prohibited in WA"

[draboo]

I was surprised to read this today:

WA Governor Signs New Biker Profiling Law

First state to do so, I believe.

 

[Roger]

One down 49 to go.:clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:

 

[musicarcade]

:congrats: to those in WA!
:clap:

 

[draboo]

AND..!

If you scroll down a ways on the "headline" page of that site, there is an article about a company to be offering TAXI services using Spyder RT's and Goldwings!!!

 

[ARtraveler]

Interesting read. They should have this type of law in all states. I was pulled over once--for no violation reason. The Minnesota State Highway Patrol officer wanted to chat and look at the Yosemite Sam lighted mudflap on my Yamha Venture back in 1984. When the squad car lights came on, I got the usual terror as to what did I do now? I was not even speeding.

 

[IWN2RYD]

Our State has one very large Army of folks who are passionate about fairness. Many clubs joined in on this, and even more individual Ryders. You should see the news casters eyes as we all gather at the Capitol when the State reps are trying to try something on us.

Not to long ago the Biker community won a significant battle at the State Capitol as well. Basically the State decided to mike Trikes their own category (Includes Sidecars) as another way to generate more revenue (Very short story not including all the details and facts here...).

The Community got together with a few Motorcycle Rights groups and was able to not only change the intent of the new law, they improved on it. They hoped to have it listed as the Car License would be sufficient, but that did not work out. However as they worked on this...

Now as every single owner of a Trike/Sidecar in this State gets the new Trike License (Class 5) all but I think $15 of taxes, fees, costs and so on go towards the Motorcycle Training Courses offered by the State.

Quick example. My Wife and I took a Training course (2.5 days) that costs $250. The State pays half. It is not limited to just Trikes. This is for ALL Motorcycle training (Full courses if memory serves me) . These folks are some seriously valuable folks. :thumbup:

So In this State a Motorcycle License does not allow you to ryde a Trike/Sidecar any longer. Each now has it's own license and training courses. The darn driving test is still the same at the DOL... But I hear this too is in the works to be fixed :chat:

 

[wukka]

Now as every single owner of a Trike/Sidecar in this State gets the new Trike License (Class 5) all but I think $15 of taxes, fees, costs and so on go towards the Motorcycle Training Courses offered by the State.

Quick example. My Wife and I took a Training course (2.5 days) that costs $250. The State pays half. It is not limited to just Trikes. This is for ALL Motorcycle training (Full courses if memory serves me) . These folks are some seriously valuable folks. :thumbup:

So In this State a Motorcycle License does not allow you to ryde a Trike/Sidecar any longer. Each now has it's own license and training courses. The darn driving test is still the same at the DOL... But I hear this too is in the works to be fixed :chat:

Please help me to understand the context of your message. I'm not aware of any recent motorcycle endorsement changes. :dontknow:

For motorcycle endorsements in Washington State, there are (and has been for almost 30 years) 3 codes:

CLASS 3: Motorcycle (2-Wheel) only
CLASS 5: Sidecar/Trike (3-Wheel) only
CLASS 7: Motorcycle AND Sidecar/Trike

Many people believe that you MUST have the CLASS 3 endorsement to ride a sidecar/trike. This is not the case. You can go from a driver's license to a CLASS 5 Sidecar/trike endorsement, bypassing the 2-Wheel Endorsement. But then you are legally limited to the 3-wheel variety of vehicles.

But that is super-cool that the state kicks in on the safety training. I don't know of a single person that *DID NOT* learn something from the safety training. I would be in favor of making the MSF training a *REQUIREMENT* to licensing for motorcycles and trikes. But we are already deep enough into a budgetary crisis...

 

[IWN2RYD]

Please help me to understand the context of your message. I'm not aware of any recent motorcycle endorsement changes. :dontknow:

For motorcycle endorsements in Washington State, there are (and has been for almost 30 years) 3 codes:

CLASS 3: Motorcycle (2-Wheel) only
CLASS 5: Sidecar/Trike (3-Wheel) only
CLASS 7: Motorcycle AND Sidecar/Trike

Many people believe that you MUST have the CLASS 3 endorsement to ride a sidecar/trike. This is not the case. You can go from a driver's license to a CLASS 5 Sidecar/trike endorsement, bypassing the 2-Wheel Endorsement. But then you are legally limited to the 3-wheel variety of vehicles.

But that is super-cool that the state kicks in on the safety training. I don't know of a single person that *DID NOT* learn something from the safety training. I would be in favor of making the MSF training a *REQUIREMENT* to licensing for motorcycles and trikes. But we are already deep enough into a budgetary crisis...

Like I said above... (Very short story not including all the details and facts here...).

My second hand knowledge comes from our Instructor who was one of the main folks fighting with the State to get the changes we have now in place. As my priority at the time was learning about the Sidecar an Trike, I did not retain all the info you are looking for unfortunately :gaah:I knew I should have not said anything pps: I will try and find the website that went into the detail you are looking for. I am not in any way the one with all the details on this. That is why I just offered some thoughts on it. I only relayed a short story as a way to offer a little of the efforts spent by others.

The basic issue was the Reverse Trike. Yes you are 100% correct. You can get the Trike without the Motorcycle endorsement! From what I understand, they wanted to force us to have both, and or make the Reverse Trike yet another class all on it's own. Even if we did not own a two wheeled bike, trike and sidecar owners would have to get both (Very foggy memory on that one BTW). Hence the double dipping or extra revenue for the State.

SO at the end of the day our reverse trikes lined up with the older Trikes and Sidecars... Not it's own with the other restrictions.. and I believe 80%+ of all the monies collected from the licensing goes to the fund.

Here is a little read up on it.... http://www.soundrider.com/archive/safety-skills/motorcycle_safety_program.htm

Part of the battle was on the lack of safety and that most injuries and fatalities from Motorcycle Accidents had been in the control of the Ryder. Many of them one vehicle accidents... This created and outcry of support for additional training and funding needed to do that. http://www.dol.wa.gov/about/reports/mototaskforce.pdf

Of course as Disposable Income increases and folks wanting to do what the Jones' do helps in the increase of fatalities. Same thing happend in the late 90's with boating (Increase in accidents)...

What I do remember clearly... Is that nearly all the funds we are charged for our License goes towards the Rider Education Fund. This was the major win for the community. Instead of these funds going into the State slush bucket, they went into a protected fund that comes right back to us @ $125 max per person for the class (Link) Waiting lists are a part of it, as is first come first served as I believe the budget is spent every year.

I agree, very cool for us to have this opportunity and the re-fresh or new info to help us be safer ryders is a win for everyone :2thumbs:

From the ESC Site (Link)

Do I have to have an endorsement?

For Washington residents: you must have an endorsement on your license to legally operate a Sidecar or Trike. This can be either a Type 5 endorsement - "3-wheel motorcycle only" or a Type 7 endorsement-"2-wheel and 3-wheel motorcycles”.

The Washington Class 5 license endorsement allows you to ride any size engine 3-wheel motorcycle. If a student already has a Class 3 2-wheel motorcycle endorsement, upon completion the student will receive a Class 7 endorsement, which combines the 2-wheel and 3-wheel motorcycle endorsements.

The WA Department of Licensing does offer a separate driving test for a 3-wheel motorcycleFrom the ESC Site (Link) s (Sidecar/Trike). Not all of the DOL offices are able to offer this test; you may need to speak with your local DOL office to see where it is available.

 

[docdoru]

I was surprised to read this today:

WA Governor Signs New Biker Profiling Law

First state to do so, I believe.

:congrats::bowdown::firstplace: