Information from the County Attorney's Office
By Steven J. Franzen, Campbell County Attorney
Under Kentucky law, there are specific regulations dealing with operators of motorcycles, motorcycle licenses and required equipment as to motorcycles. Specifically, a person shall not operate a motorcycle on a highway unless that person (i) possesses a valid motorcycle operator’s license, (ii) uses an approved eye protection device at all times whilethe vehicle is in motion and (iii) the motorcycle is equipped with a rear-view mirror.
An instruction driving permit for a motorcycle can be obtained if a person possesses a regular valid driver’s license or is at least eighteen (18) years of age. Similar to automobile licenses, an instruction permit for a motorcycle must be used for six (6) months if a person is under twenty-one (21) years of age and for thirty (30) days if over twenty-one (21) years of age. Also, those under eighteen (18) years of age with instruction permits cannot operate a motorcycle or other motor vehicle between the hours of midnight and 6:00 am unless they can demonstrate good cause for riding, such as an emergency, school function or work. Moreover, those with motorcycle instruction permits are not permitted to carry passengers.
If a motorcycle is to be operated on a highway, then the motorcycle owner is required to carry at least liability insurance on the motorcycle and to license the vehicle through the County Clerk’s Office. There is also a provision under the law that a person shall not operate or ride as a passenger on a motorcycle except on a seat permanently attached to the vehicle and specifically designed to carry the operator or the passenger in a safe manner and also while using a foot rest permanently attached to the vehicle and specifically designed to carry that person in a safe manner.
Since 2000 when the Kentucky Legislature repealed the State’s helmet law, those over twenty-one (21) years of age, who have had a valid motorcycle operator’s license for at least one (1) year are permitted to operate motorcycles without wearing helmets. Also, passengers over twenty-one (21) years of age can elect not to wear helmets if the operator meets the law’s requirements. However, it is not recommended under any circumstance and one certainly has to question the wisdom of doing such. Anyone with only an instruction permit or under the age of twenty-one (21) years of age must wear protective head gear.
If you have any topics you would like to have covered in this column, please contact my office by e-mail at countyattorney@campbellcountyky.org, by phone at 491-7700 or by regular mail addressed to 319 York Street, Newport, Kentucky 41071.