H. B. 2675
(By Delegate Love)
[Introduced February 23, 1995; referred to the
Committee on Roads and Transportation.]
A BILL to amend and reenact section seven-b, article two,
chapter seventeen-b of the code of West Virginia, one
thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to
motorcycle test course configuration.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section seven-b, article two, chapter seventeen-b of
the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one,
as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2. ISSUANCE OF LICENSE, EXPIRATION AND RENEWAL.
§17B-2-7b. Separate examination and endorsement for a license
valid for operation of motorcycle.
The division of public safety shall administer a separate motorcycle examination for applicants for a license valid for
operation of a motorcycle. Any applicant for a license valid for
operation of a motorcycle shall be required to successfully
complete the motorcycle examination, which shall be in addition
to the examination administered pursuant to section seven of this
article: Provided, That the commissioner of motor vehicles may
exempt an applicant for a motorcycle driver license or
endorsement from all or part of the motorcycle license
examination as provided in section six, article one-d of this
chapter. The motorcycle examination shall test the applicant's
knowledge of the operation of a motorcycle and of any traffic
laws specifically relating thereto and shall include an actual
demonstration of the ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable
control in the operation of a motorcycle. The test course, used
to test pursuant to this section, shall take into consideration
the actual dimensions of motorcycles other than training
motorcycles. An applicant for a license valid for the operation
of only a motorcycle shall be tested as provided in this section
and in section seven of this article, but need not demonstrate
actual driving ability in any vehicle other than a motorcycle. The examination provided in this section shall not be made a
condition upon the renewal of the license of any person under
this section.
For an applicant who successfully completes the motorcycle
examination, upon payment of the required fee, the division shall
issue a motorcycle endorsement on the driver's license of the
applicant, or shall issue a special motorcycle-only license if
the applicant does not possess a driver's license.
Any person who already holds a valid driver's license on or
before the first day of April, one thousand nine hundred ninety-
two, upon application and payment of the required fee to the
division of motor vehicles at any time between the first day of
April, one thousand nine hundred ninety-two, and the thirtieth
day of June, one thousand nine hundred ninety-two, may be issued
a motorcycle endorsement without being required to take the
examination specified in this section. On or after the first day
of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-two, every person,
including those holding a valid driver's license, shall be
required to take the examination specified in this section to
obtain a motorcycle license or endorsement.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to guarantee test course
size is suitable for full size motorcycles.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken
from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language
that would be added.