Some changes are coming to Louisiana motorcycle regulations

The Louisiana legislature passed two new bills concerning motorcycle laws in the state. One deals with the licensing test and the other with handlebars. Both bills are awaiting approval by Governor Bobby Jindal to become law.

Both bills were brought forward by Senator Rick Gallot.

The first bill, Senate Bill 77, was passed unanimously in the house in an 86-0 vote yesterday. Currently, the written portion of the riding exam had to be taken and passed at a local DMV office before a certification for motorcycles could be obtained. The bill would change the criteria to allow those who have taken and passed a state certified riding course to obtain a waiver on the written test as well as the skills test.

If the bill is signed by Jindal, it will save time at the DMV for those who have passed the course, as well as help save DMV time and resources to better be used to provide services to other customers. The written portion of the test is already included in the classes, so duplication of the test is simply a waste of time.

The second bill, Senate Bill 582, was also passed unanimously. Currently, the height of motorcycle handlebars cannot be more than 15 inches above the driver's seat of the motorcycle. The new law changes the height restriction to “level with the rider's shoulders”. Many other states use the same requirement, since different height riders and variations in motorcycle styles make the 15-inch limit impractical at times.

There is no word yet on if Governor Jindal will sign the bills, veto them, or simply let them pass without signature.

[The Times Picayune]