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New Motorcycle Law Starts July 1st Save Email Print
Posted: 5:50 PM Jun 25, 2008
Last Updated: 10:55 PM Jun 26, 2008
Reporter: Alex Denis


A | A | A

A new Florida law is making it more difficult for new motorcyclist to get their bikes on the road.

Bikers will now have to pass a safety course before they can get a license. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles says the goal is to improve safety and save lives.

Some bikers in Bay County have already signed up and started taking the course.

Until now, anyone over the age of 21 who wanted a motorcycle endorsement on their driver's license had to pass both a motorcycle driving and written test, but starting July 1 a new law will require all new riders to take a more comprehensive basic riders course.

Bill Tuttle, trainer, said, "Most riders who taught themselves how to ride literally ride their entire life and don't realize they're doing what they’re doing. We try to show the proper technique and try to illustrate we can't panic on a motorcycle."

The course is 15 hours long and it's broken down into 10 hours on the driving range and 5 hours in the class room.

After students complete the training sessions they take two tests a written and performance. These students are on their final day practicing basic riding maneuvers and review emergency stops.

For Jarred Mifsud, this class has given him the confidence he was looking for. He also believes all new riders should be required to take it

Jarred said, "They should have to do this, it really does help. I felt iffy being on a bike riding it and now I feel a lot more comfortable."

Had been riding his entire adult life and says this course does more than teach new bikers it creates cautious drivers.

"As you take this course you start looking for motorcycles you start looking for things they are doing incorrectly or correctly. You start driving your car differently and all of them add up to you being a safer driver there's no question about it."

To find a course in your area you can visit the Department of Highway Safety Vehicles at www.flhsmv.gov.

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Posted by: Shrike Location: Private on Jul 19, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Dear Mr. Bill McCollum (FL Attorney General), I believe that the new Florida law requiring citizens to take a driver safety course before getting their motorcycle license is a fantastic idea. As both a motorcyclist and motorist I am very concerned with all our safety on the streets and worry about what I see on a daily basis. I am writing you today to find out how this law came about and to inquire as to when the law requiring car drivers to do the same will go into effect. Thank you for your time and attention. Attentively Proud Floridian

Posted by: Katya Mullethov Location: So . Texas on Jul 2, 2008 at 11:26 PM
Dont get all offended , somebody just wants a little more of your money . 15 hours ? C'mon! Will this require another law to prevent my getting fired for missing two days of work ? Look at it this way . Every year about 5,000 riders and 6,000 teens kill themselves with bikes and automobiles respectably . Of the teens one 4th were drinking , smokin' , or both, one half of those killed weren't wearing a seat belt , and not a single one of the 6,000 dead was wearing a helmet . How long will we let this massacre continue ? They can call it whatever they want , but in the end , you getting run over by a cellphone toting soccer mom is inconsequential , they just want your money .

Posted by: H.W Fisher Location: Saint James City on Jul 1, 2008 at 01:17 PM
Yes i hope it will teach these kids how to ride safely But first outlaw The nijua bikes so we are all safer on the road. Yes i have been riding over 50 years yes it can ride you instead of you riding it. As some people think we are all ( Hells Angles or Outlaws )it is people in cars not looking or dont care about us bikers.Some think just because you ride to save fuel and for the fun of it pre judge all bikers as we have the same rights on the road as cars but bikers have only 2 wheels vs a car which has 4 wheeles. If they have never ridden they dont know you got to have 6 eyes to watch out for cars.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Tampa on Jul 1, 2008 at 01:12 PM
Let Those Who Ride Decide.....

Posted by: frank ferrano Location: hollywood on Jun 30, 2008 at 04:46 PM
Ben from nashville hit it right on the head, just another way to create a an obstruction to progress, and here in florida it appears that they are going to pass a law that if you are on a motorcycle and caught going over 30 mph the speed limit you must be arrested and your bike will be siezed. but for some reason that law is not good enough for cars.

Posted by: Ben Location: Nashville Tn on Jun 28, 2008 at 02:53 PM
Your sense of un-biased journalism is weak. No other license requires a course, including CDL (commercial truck) which leads to a bigger safety risk than motorcyclists. This is just one more tool to discriminate against motorcycle riders. Motorcycles use less fuel and parking space than cars and trucks. If we are to survive this period of our economy, we should encourage more use of motorcycles, not make getting a motorcycle license so expensive that no one can afford the courses and insurance. And once again, journalism is not supposed to take a side on an issue, just report the facts. You show one viewpoint, you need to show the others. If you can't suppress you hatred of those of us that ride to work every day on a bike who don't have hundreds to spend on courses we don't need, for long enough to write a story, then you need to find another profession.

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