New motorcyclists getting their license in Connecticut are now required--as of yesterday--to complete a rider training course. And in California, new riders under 21 years-of-age must complete such a course before they will even be issued a learner's permit.
Also becoming law in California with the new year is a prohibition on possession of a "pigtail" that allows the user to quickly hot-wire and steal a motorcycle.
The Connecticut law applies only to new riders and will not affect riders who already have a motorcycle endorsement on their license. The law applies to riders of any age.
The mother of a 19-year-old motorcyclist who was killed in a crash was the driving force behind the Connecticut law. The rider, Nick Cohen, was wearing a helmet but had not taken a rider training course. His mother believes training may have saved his life.
In California, the law was promoted by the brother and friends of a new rider who was killed after he had passed the written portion of the licensing test but was only learning to ride. In addition to completing the course in order to get a learner's permit, the rider must hold that permit, riding only under the conditions it allows, for six months before they can receive a full license.
As for the law against pigtails, anyone convicted of possessing such a device would face a misdemeanor penalty of up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
California reportedly has the highest rate of motorcycle theft in the country, with more than 5,000 stolen last year through October.
Comments
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