Touring Guide To the Law
TOURING GUIDE TO THE LAW
You don’t know the meaning of "Sovereign State" until you cross a state line on a bike.
Right off the cuff, this chart shouldn’t be here at all. In almost every other field, i.e. marriage, driver’s licenses, etc., our sovereign states honor each other’s rules; if your car is registered in say, New York, and it will pass the New York regulations, then you can drive it in California even if it doesn’t have all the equipment California requires for cars registered there.
Motorcycles don't have this privilege. Soon as you cross the border, your motorcycle and head come under the custody and control of the state you’re riding in. This can be an annoyance. It can cost time and money.
The way to not get into hassles with the law is to know the law before you get close to the hassle. American Motorcyclist Association has been active in this field for years. The AMA keeps a constant eye on motorcycle laws in all states and reports changes to AMA members.
Because it’s spring and the thoughts of riders young and old are turning toward the open road, we’ve borrowed the AMA’s latest list (with permission).
Below is a compilation of motorcycle laws pertaining to licensing and equipment, for the 50 states and the District of Columbia. E5j
