CHAPTER 8. MOTORCYCLE LICENSE, PERMIT, OR ENDORSEMENT

IC 9-24-8
     Chapter 8. Motorcycle License, Permit, or Endorsement

IC 9-24-8-1
Development and issuance; standards
    
Sec. 1. (a) The bureau shall develop and issue the following:
        (1) A temporary motorcycle learner's permit.
        (2) A motorcycle learner's permit.
        (3) A motorcycle operator's license or a license endorsement.
    (b) The bureau shall determine reasonable standards for a motorcycle operator's license or a license endorsement for the operation of a motorcycle.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.12.

IC 9-24-8-2
Temporary learner's permit
    
Sec. 2. (a) The bureau shall issue a temporary motorcycle learner's permit to an individual who meets the following conditions:
        (1) Is at least fifteen (15) years of age.
        (2) Is enrolled in an approved motorcycle driver education and training course.
        (3) Presents a certificate of enrollment to the bureau.
        (4) Is not ineligible under IC 9-24-2-1.
    (b) The bureau shall validate a temporary motorcycle learner's permit upon certification by the instructor of an approved motorcycle driver education and training course that the holder has satisfactorily completed the course and passed the written test described in section 4 of this chapter.
    (c) The holder of a validated temporary motorcycle learner's permit may only operate a motorcycle under the following conditions:
        (1) The holder must wear a helmet that meets the standards established by the United States Department of Transportation under 49 CFR 571.218 as in effect January 1, 1979.
        (2) The motorcycle may be operated only during daylight hours.
        (3) The motorcycle may not carry passengers other than the operator.
        (4) The holder must be under the supervision of a licensed motorcycle operator who must be at least eighteen (18) years of age.
    (d) A temporary motorcycle learner's permit authorizes the permit holder to operate a motorcycle upon a highway while enrolled in an approved motorcycle driver education and training course and only when the holder is under the direct supervision of an instructor who has received training in the use and operation of motorcycles and who has been:
        (1) certified to teach motorcycle driver education by the state board of education; or
        (2) approved as a motorcycle instructor by the bureau of motor vehicles. As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.12.

IC 9-24-8-3
Learner's permit
    
Sec. 3. (a) The bureau shall issue a motorcycle learner's permit to an individual who meets the following conditions:
        (1) The individual holds a valid operator's, chauffeur's, or public passenger chauffeur's license issued under this article.
        (2) The individual passes a written examination developed by the bureau concerning the safe operation of a motorcycle.
    (b) A motorcycle learner's permit authorizes the permit's holder to operate a motorcycle upon a highway during a period of one (1) year under the following conditions:
        (1) The holder wears a helmet that meets the standards established by the United States Department of Transportation under 49 CFR 571.218 as in effect January 1, 1979.
        (2) The motorcycle is operated only during daylight hours.
        (3) The motorcycle does not carry passengers other than the operator.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.12.

IC 9-24-8-4
Operator's license and endorsement
    
Sec. 4. (a) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d), the bureau shall:
        (1) issue a motorcycle operator's license; or
        (2) validate an operator's, a chauffeur's, or a public passenger chauffeur's license for motorcycle operation upon a highway by endorsement;
to a person who meets the conditions in subsection (b).
    (b) A person must meet at least one (1) of the following conditions to obtain a license or validation under subsection (a):
        (1) Satisfactorily complete the written test, hold a motorcycle learner's permit for at least thirty (30) days, and:
            (A) satisfactorily complete an approved operational skills test; or
            (B) satisfactorily complete a motorcycle operator safety education course approved by the department of education as set forth in IC 20-30-13-9.
        (2) Hold a current motorcycle operator endorsement or motorcycle operator's license from any other jurisdiction and successfully complete the written test.
    (c) The bureau may not issue a motorcycle operator's license or endorsement to an individual less than sixteen (16) years and thirty (30) days of age.
    (d) If an applicant for a motorcycle license or license endorsement is less than eighteen (18) years of age, the bureau may not issue a license or validate a license described in subsection (a) if the applicant is ineligible under IC 9-24-2-1.
    (e) The bureau shall develop and implement both a written test

and an operational skills test that must be designed to determine whether an applicant for a motorcycle operator's license or endorsement is competent to operate a motorcycle upon a highway. The written test must be made available at license branch locations approved by the bureau. The operational skills test must be given at locations designated by the bureau. The bureau shall adopt rules by July 1, 2007, under IC 4-22-2 to establish standards for persons administering operational skills tests and the provisions of the operational skills test. An individual applying for a motorcycle operator's license or endorsement must pass the written exam before taking the operational skills test. If an applicant fails to satisfactorily complete either the written or operational tests, the applicant may reapply for and must be offered the examination upon the same terms and conditions as applicants may reapply for and be offered examinations for an operator's license. The bureau shall publish and make available at all locations where an individual may apply for an operator's license information concerning motorcycle operator licensing or endorsement.
    (f) An individual who:
        (1) has held a motorcycle learner's permit for at least thirty (30) days; or
        (2) holds a temporary motorcycle learner's permit, has successfully completed an approved motorcycle driver education and training course, and possesses a valid operator's, chauffeur's, or public passenger chauffeur's license;
may apply for a motorcycle operator's license or endorsement not later than the expiration date of the holder's permit. However, not more than three (3) examinations may be allowed a holder during the period the permit is valid. A holder of a learner's permit or a temporary learner's permit who does not pass the written and operating skills examination during the period for which the permit is valid must obtain a new learner's permit.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.12. Amended by P.L.45-2006, SEC.1; P.L.156-2006, SEC.9.

IC 9-24-8-5
Violations
    
Sec. 5. A person who violates this chapter commits a Class C infraction.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.12.

IC 9-24-8-6
Operating under the influence of alcohol; revocation
    
Sec. 6. In addition to any other penalty, the bureau shall revoke the motorcycle learner's permit of a person holding a motorcycle learner's permit who is convicted of operating a motorcycle under the influence of alcohol for at least (1) year from the date of the conviction.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.12.