Attn FL riders...or aint this a kick in da pants!!

[1BigDog]

I just saw this on the news tonight. Seems Florida wants us to ALL be certified on a M/C. Even us old timers. At a cost of $200.00+! Plus they let us know 4 days in advance of the law taking place. What kind of garbage is this. Sounds pretty unconstitutinal to me. Especially given the fact that they have charged extra all these years for a M/C endorsement. At least grandfather in the older riders.

 

 

Certification Required For All FL Motorcycle Riders

 

http://www.cbs47.com/media/news/7/f/9/7f944998-a100-471a-8724-42c24dc41997/Contributor.jpg Reported by: Kristen Cosby

Email: kcosby@tvjaxfl.com

Last Update: 4:54 pm

Print Story | Email Story

http://www.cbs47.com/images/textsize/11N.gifhttp://www.cbs47.com/images/textsize/12S.gifhttp://www.cbs47.com/images/textsize/14N.gifhttp://www.cbs47.com/images/textsize/16N.gif

 

 

http://www.cbs47.com/media/news/a/0/2/a0228aa9-d85c-407a-b076-66626a63463d/Story.jpg

 

George Drake will soon trade in his car for a motorcycle, figuring he'll cut his family's gas costs in half.

"Its convenient, its something that's a thrill and I think probably the way America's gonna go if we continue with our gas prices," said Drake.

Florida wants to make sure these growing number or riders rev up safely. Starting July 1 everyone who hops on a hog has to be certified by going through a training course. Even if you've been riding a motorcycle for years, if you don't have that certification, you also have to go to class.

Michael Dobbs runs Jacksonville Motorcycle Safety Training and says this law will save a lot of lives.

"90 % of people that are self-taught will probably get in an accident, self taught by a friend, an uncle or someone," said Dobbs.

The training course is 15 hours long- five hours in the classroom, 10 hours on the bike. The course teaches things like how to avoid an accident and how to maneuver through a tough situation on the road. It average $200.

For Drake, it means he'll save gas money and stay safe.

"Florida's going the right way by enforcing this course," said Drake.

[mbrood]

Sure seems like bull to me. They don't require certification for 4 wheels? I'll bet you some Legislature person has a brother or cousin that runs a motorcycle training class...

 

I would think this can't be imposed without several laws being shoved..

 

Isn't this discrimination? And what evidence do they show that classes greatly increase safety? It brings a lot of training to bear but 10 hours on the road and 5 hours class? That's nuts. And yeah, I have a friend that took a local course (on his own) and was so tickled that he wanted to show his wife... and promptly dumped it... over confident... His wife said, "And you paid somebody to learn how to do that?"

[mini-muffin]

You guys in florida are getting slack about reading the site.

 

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=24022

 

Margaret

[MAINEAC]

Hey Ruff relax... you got it wrong and that report is confusing... The new law is aimed at "new" riders not riders with an endorsement already in place...

 

http://images.clickability.com/partners/42601/mainLogo.gif

http://images.clickability.com/pti/spacer.gif

New Motorcycle Law

 

Posted: 6:31 PM Jun 26, 2008

Last Updated: 11:40 PM Jun 26, 2008

Email Address: lanetra.bennett@wctv.tv

Before anyone hops on a motorcycle in Florida, keep in mind that a new law goes into effect next week.

Beginning July 1st, new motorcyclists must successfully complete the Basic Rider Course through the Florida Rider Trainer Program before they can have the motorcycle endorsement added to their driver license.

Before, you had to be 21 to get the endorsement.

Starting Tuesday, everyone will have to take the class and pass the test, no matter their age.

One motorcycle rider, Robbie Pelchat of Tallahassee, said, "It's a good idea because it's less stupid drivers on the road. With the whole way gas is going, a lot more people are going for motorcycles and mopeds because it's cheaper on gas. They're changing all the laws."

To find out how to sign up for the motorcycle training course,check out www.flhsmv.gov.

 

http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/21824944.html

[Redneck]

The trial liars are going to get rich with this one.

[1BigDog]

Keep it up Mini, that could be you.....

[1BigDog]

I sure hope your right, Mark. Im too set in my ways now, after riding for 30 years.

[mini-muffin]

Just trying to be helpful Ruffy.

 

Margaret

[Brake Pad]

I'm with Ruff, Been riding 30 years, they can kiss my (Mule)

[Brake Pad]

I know that of July 1st, no one can buy a bike from a dealer, if they don't have a liecense The:bobby:told me that

[friesman]

I know that of July 1st, no one can buy a bike from a dealer, if they don't have a liecense The:bobby:told me that

 

I wonder how will they handle out of state people buying bikes to take out of the area>?

 

Brian:cool10:

[BEER30]

Isn't Florida the east coast version of Kornifornia ?

 

 

BEER30

[MAINEAC]

Isn't Florida the east coast version of Kornifornia ?

 

 

BEER30

 

Not even close... As a regular visitor to FL I find it very biker friendly.

[az1103]

Easy guys, Calif. ain't so bad. They even allow lane splitting! :whistling:The only thing they insist on is that you wear a helmet so your brains don't splatter everybody.

[MAINEAC]

Easy guys, Calif. ain't so bad. They even allow lane splitting! :whistling:The only thing they insist on is that you wear a helmet so your brains don't splatter everybody.

 

They might splatter on one of them Beautiful People

[Tatonka]

I wonder how will they handle out of state people buying bikes to take out of the area>?

 

Brian:cool10:

 

I just went through the hassle of buying a bike in Florida in April. Since I bought privately, I purchased a temporary tag ($5 and they don't require proof of insurance- beats me) at the Florida DMV (the seller had checked with DMV for me), but I had to pay sales tax (think it was 6%) on the sales price even though I showed them my DC license and clearly stated that I was taking it out of state.

 

After a long discussion, I was told that DC was one of the states (quite a number of other states where they collect) where they were required to collect sales tax and DC would (or could) give me credit for the tax collected in Florida when I registered my bike there. I was ticked off but was pretty much over the barrel because I needed to ride the bike to DC, so I unhappily paid the tax with credit card and was charged an additional $7 for credit card use by the Florida DMV. They gave me a nice looking notorized certificate showing that I had paid the sales tax (I missed the statement that the home State, " might or might not", set off the tax collected in Florida) and went happily on my way. I was informed that I had 30 days (I believe) to transfer title in my home state.

 

The DC DMV (and Office of the DC Treasurer) subsequently treated me carefully as a slightly demented moron (were nice about it though since I was wearing my A.L. Rider vest) for thinking that another state could collect tax for them. After long discussion and talk with the head supervisor, I was shown that DC collects excise tax on used vehicles and doesn't collect sales tax. A DC tax could not be set off against a sales tax collected in another state according to DC Code. They also showed me the fine print, "might or might not recognize" in the notorized tax receipt. Paid the DC 6% excise tax and put it down to cost of another learning experience. I'm giving you the grim facts of this "tax rape" free of charge. Good thing that 12% on a great deal, still left a good deal.

 

If you live outside of Florida and purchase a bike privately in Florida (dealer purchases require paying sales tax anyway) , make sure you have the bike already insured (for your financial security in case something happens before you get out of Florida) and use the seller's tags to get home and send them back to the seller per courier after you register your bike in your home state. The $45 for the courier beats the 6% tax in any case.

 

I had to show that I had a license with motorcycle endorsement to get the temporary tag, so I hope Florida will grandfather that requirement for a proof of motorcycle safety course for riders licensed before July 1, 2008. I would be careful however because not all states have reciprocity with each other for car and motorcycle driver's licenses. Some recognize the car, but not the motorcycle, especially when moving from one state to another (or internationally since each U.S. State has different agreements with foreign countries). Germany for instance will accept the automobile license, but still make you take the written and road test (but not require driver's school as long as you convert within 6 months of entering the country), but won't accept the motorcycle endorsement from any U.S. State, requiring that you go to a minimum 25 hour driving school before being able to take the written and road test for motorcycle.

 

And I used to like to go to Florida to swim and SCUBA dive. With this and the many shark attacks going on there (bellieve it or not, they feed sharks from the piers down there as an attraction, but only on certain days of the week- duhh- do sharks have calendars?) and the Bahamas offer popular shark feeding dives (aren't sharks nomadic?), so they lose my bucks for the next few years.

 

And don't forget that Florida has a complicated helmet law- you have to be 21 years of age and have proof of adequate medical insurance with you to ride without a helmet (although I still don't know why people would want to ride without one- but that is maybe part of my learning experience.)

Edited June 28, 2008 by Tatonka

[Thom]

hey Ruff , all of us old farts are grandfathered in , on the msf safety course and any other out of staters are ok too , we do not require insurance on a M/C in this state except 10,000 med. for riding with out a helmet , and you have to be over 21 too ride with out a helmet , riders under 21 have a tag that reads under 21 on it , the the msf course is very good because a lot of new riders fail the driving test 2 or 3 times and we have a LOT of new riders . on the sales tax , fl. has no income tax only a sales tax and charge a sale tax on everything sold in fl. but food . now on sharks , i am a diver and not missing any parts do to feeding sharks , how many scuba divers in the world are losts to sharks ?? i thinks it is safer to dive with sharks than than to ride in DC :rotfl:now surfers are another story

if anybody wants more info about the laws on M/C's in fl. check out ABATE OF FLORIDA INC.

Thom

[KiteSquid]

I think it is a good idea for ALL riders to attend a MSF safety course.

 

I am ready to be flamed, but I am GLAD that FLA has made it mandatory for new licensees.

 

I think that all riders should take the course annual!!!!!

 

I DO!!!!!!

 

BTW I am in no way connected with the MSF.

[1BigDog]

I think it is a good idea for ALL riders to attend a MSF safety course.

 

I am ready to be flamed, but I am GLAD that FLA has made it mandatory for new licensees.

 

 

In a way im glad too. Since the price of gas has skyrocketed, several of my co-workers have bought bikes. Knowing what I know about them makes me shiver in my boots. I barely trust them walking, much less on a large bike. Yes, they all went large too.

[IH Truck Guy]

In a way im glad too. Since the price of gas has skyrocketed, several of my co-workers have bought bikes. Knowing what I know about them makes me shiver in my boots. I barely trust them walking, much less on a large bike. Yes, they all went large too.

Jeff,I totally agree with you on this.. Your co-workers must be related to some of my co-workers.:rotfl:

[KingSizer]

Here in Pennsylvania to get the mc endorsement you have the choice of going to the Driver's Training Center and taking a road test administered by a policeman, complete with figure eights and cones etc. OR you can attend an MSF training class. When the MSF class is over they stamp your license verifying your temporary mc endorsement and the new license comes from the Dept. of Transportation a couple weeks later. I've heard it's real easy to FAIL if you just take the test with the policeman though. I personally took the time to take the MSF class, I learned alot of things that might save my life someday, and I would recomend it to everyone. HOWEVER, we didn't have to pay anything for it. I'm not sure who covered the cost, maybe the state did...

[dray]

Isn't Florida the east coast version of Kornifornia ?

 

 

BEER30

 

whats the boys holdin hands have to do with bikes BEER?

[Tatonka]

now on sharks , i am a diver and not missing any parts do to feeding sharks , how many scuba divers in the world are losts to sharks ?? i thinks it is safer to dive with sharks than than to ride in DC :rotfl:now surfers are another story

if anybody wants more info about the laws on M/C's in fl. check out ABATE OF FLORIDA INC.

Thom

 

Hi Thom,

Thanks for the clarification on Florida tax assesments. I guess I paid enough sales tax there.

 

Not to make a big issue of it but I've also been diving for a while (40 years and as long as I have been riding a bike), enjoyed it so much I did it in the Navy and ran a small diving business on the side afterwards. I think it is a recognized fact that divers are not normally "attacked" by sharks because they can see how big we are under water, but it sometimes does happen.

 

Florida has shown an increase in shark attacks on beaches over the past few years and funnily enough, most of the attacks are on swimmers, surfers and occasionally on people just standing in the water. Many of the documented attacks on people standing in the water, show injuries on arms and hands, possibly because of the reflex action of the person to danger. Having observed some of the shark feeding excursions because they were in an area where I was doing marine biology research on behavioral patterns of large marine scavangers, I could see why the feeder wears a shark suit which he often needs as they get excited. As an experienced diver, I'm sure you know not to attach your spearfish catch to a line on your weight belt.

 

In my diving in all oceans of the world, I only have been "attacked" once, but have also experienced the "What is it bump ?" from the side of a shark when it is not sure if I could be something it should be interested in. I only dive now and never go swimming in oceans. Some say warming of the water through El Nijo is responsible, I think part of it might also be the old adage, "Feed a bear and produce a problem bear".

 

I don't have problems riding in DC, but I like riding in Paris and Ho Chi Minh City too.

Since we're a rider and not a diver forum, I apologize for bringing the shark subject up.

 

Ride safe, ride hard, but ride with God.

[BEER30]

whats the boys holdin hands have to do with bikes BEER?

 

 

Because I guess it would be hard to stir the scoot , but they will not complain as long as they can ride 2-up !

 

Now watch out for the Florida land sharks !

 

BEER30

[MikeM8560]

Had me scared for a min, I just dont have the time to take any classes.