1 HB125
2 207879-1
3 By Representative Pringle
4 RFD: Public Safety and Homeland Security
5 First Read: 02-FEB-21
6 PFD: 01/26/2021
Page 0
1 207879-1:n:08/12/2020:CMH/tj LSA2020-1675
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 SYNOPSIS: Under existing law, in order to obtain a
9 Class M license to operate a motorcycle or
10 motor-driven cycle, a person must complete a
11 written motorcycle test or an Alabama Traffic
12 Safety Center/Alabama Motorcycle Safety Program,
13 Motorcycle Safety Foundation, Basic Riders Course
14 or Basic Riders Course II.
15 This bill would require a person to complete
16 a written motorcycle test and complete a motorcycle
17 riders course in order to obtain a Class M license
18 to operate a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle.
19 This bill would not apply to any person
20 authorized to operate a motorcycle before January
21 1, 2022.
22
23 A BILL
24 TO BE ENTITLED
25 AN ACT
26
Page 1
1 Relating to motorcycles; to amend Sections 32-5A-240
2 and 32-12-22, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide further for the
3 requirements to operate a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
5 Section 1. Sections 32-5A-240 and 32-12-22, Code of
6 Alabama 1975, are amended to read as follows:
7 "32-5A-240.
8 "(a) Subject to subsection (b), each person
9 operating a motorcycle shall be granted all of the rights and
10 shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver
11 of any other vehicle under this chapter, except as to special
12 regulations in this article and except as to those provisions
13 of this chapter which by their nature can have no application.
14 "(b)(1) Each person operating a motorcycle on any
15 public road, street, or highway in this state shall do all of
16 the following:
17 "(1) have successfully passed Pass a written
18 motorcycle test designated by the Alabama State Law
19 Enforcement Agency. and shall have a
20 "(2) Have a motorcycle Class M displayed on his or
21 her driver's license along with the regular class of the
22 license or have been issued a Class M motorcycle license.
23 "(2) A person may also obtain the Class M license by
24 successfully completing a written motorcycle test designated
25 by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency or by completing (3)
26 Complete an Alabama Traffic Safety Center/Alabama Motorcycle
27 Safety Program, Motorcycle Safety Foundation, Basic Riders
Page 2
1 Course or Basic Rider Riders Course II, or a substantially
2 equivalent motorcycle riders course approved by the Alabama
3 State Law Enforcement Agency.
4 "(3)(c) A person 17 years of age or younger
5 operating a motorcycle shall be subject to the operating
6 hours, exceptions, and suspensions provided in Section
7 32-6-7.2.
8 "(d) This section does not apply to a person who has
9 obtained a license to operate a motorcycle prior to January 1,
10 2022.
11 "32-12-22.
12 "(a) A person operating a motor-driven cycle with a
13 Class M motorcycle license with a motor-driven cycle
14 restriction, a motorcycle Class M displayed on the person's
15 regular license, or a Class M motorcycle license shall be
16 granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the
17 duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle under
18 Chapter 6 of this title, except as to special regulations in
19 this article and those provisions of this chapter which by
20 their nature can have no application.
21 "(b)(1) A Class M motorcycle license with a
22 motor-driven cycle restriction shall be issued to any person
23 14 years and older if the person has who satisfies both of the
24 following:
25 "(1) passed Has passed a motorcycle knowledge test
26 designated by the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency.
Page 3
1 "or if the individual has successfully (2) Has
2 completed an Alabama Traffic Safety Center/Alabama Motorcycle
3 Safety Program, Motorcycle Safety Foundation, Basic Riders
4 Course or Basic Riders Course II, or a substantially
5 equivalent motorcycle riders course approved by the Alabama
6 State Law Enforcement Agency.
7 "(2)(c) A person 17 years of age or younger
8 operating a motor-driven cycle shall be subject to the
9 operating hours, exceptions, and suspensions provided in
10 Section 32-6-7.2.
11 "(c)(d) This section and the portion of Section
12 32-5A-240 amended by Act 2015-223 do does not apply to a
13 person who has obtained a license to operate a motorcycle or a
14 motor-driven cycle prior to January 1, 2016 2022."
15 Section 2. This act shall become effective January
16 1, 2022, following its passage and approval by the Governor,
17 or its otherwise becoming law.
Page 4


Statutes affected:
Introduced: 32-5A-240, 32-12-22