Chief’s Corner
By Chief Steven J. Wojnar Dudley Police Department The warmer spring weather, finally, means many people are out and about. I was asked a question regarding motorcycles. The person was interested in obtaining a motorcycle license. They wondered about the licensing process and if they needed to own a bike to take the test. The Registry of Motor Vehicles creates rules and regulations for obtaining a motorcycle permit and license. To obtain a permit, a person must complete an application. This may be done online, under the COVID rules, or in person through appointment. You must be of legal driving age and meet all the qualifications for a standard vehicle license. If you are under 18, parental consent is required, and all junior operator provisions must be followed. Everyone must take a basic 25 question examination and correctly answer at least 18. A vision screening is also conducted prior to any permit being issued. When operating on a motorcycle permit, a person is not allowed to carry passengers, must operate only during the day light (sunrise to sunset), must wear an approved helmet and eye protection, and must not operate out of state unless the other state allows such operation. Motorcycle license regulations can be very similar to those for obtaining a permit. You must determine whether this license will be under a “Real ID” application or standard license. You should check the web site below for further details. Regardless of the type of license, completion of a road test is required. A person can also take the Motorcycle Rider Education Training Course prior to any license being issued. There are fees associated with both the license and permit process. Anyone interested should consult the Registry of Motor Vehicles web site for any COVID-19 related restrictions or requirements. |
A person is not required to own a registered motorcycle while obtaining a license. The rules are like the driver’s license road tests for cars or trucks. The Registry tells us for all road tests, “you are required to supply a properly equipped, legally registered and insured motorcycle that has a valid inspection sticker. The motorcycle must be acceptable to the examiner.”
A rider should be confident in his/her ability to safely ride whatever motorcycle they plan to operate. Consult with professionals on the subject prior to riding or buying any motorcycle. If not operated safely, and with due caution, crashes and injuries can result. More information can be obtained through the Registry at https://www.mass.gov/motorcycle-class-m-drivers-licenses . Thanks again for your questions and comments. Please send them to me at the Dudley Police Department 71 West Main St., Dudley, Ma. 01571 or email at swojnar@dudleypolice.com. Opinions expressed in this weekly column are those of Chief Wojnar only and unless clearly noted, do not reflect the ideas or opinions of any other organization or citizen. |
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