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AN ACT relating to the operation of a motorcycle. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
Section 1. KRS 176.5062 is amended to read as follows: 3
(1) The motorcycle safety education program shall offer motorcycle rider training 4
courses designed to develop and instill the knowledge, attitudes, habits, and skills 5
necessary for the proper operation of a motorcycle. The courses shall be taught by 6
instructors approved under KRS 176.5063 and shall include no fewer than eight (8) 7
hours of hands-on instruction for a novice course. 8
(2) Rider training courses shall be open to a resident of any state who is eligible for a 9
motor vehicle instruction permit in the person's home state. 10
(3) Rider training courses shall be provided free of charge to applicants under eighteen 11
(18) years of age. 12
(4) The cabinet shall issue certificates of completion in a manner and form prescribed 13
by administrative regulations promulgated pursuant to KRS Chapter 13A to persons 14
who satisfactorily complete the requirements of a motorcycle rider training course 15
offered or authorized by the state program. 16
(5) The Transportation Cabinet shall exempt applicants for a motorcycle instruction 17
permit or operator's[driver's] license or endorsement from the written test for a 18
motorcycle instruction permit and the skills[licensing skill] test for a motorcycle 19
operator's license if the applicant presents[they present] satisfactory evidence of 20
successful completion of an approved rider training course that includes a similar 21
test of knowledge and skills[skill]. Applicants under this subsection who 22
successfully completed their testing on a three (3) wheeled motorcycle shall be 23
subject to the restrictions outlined in KRS 186.480(3). 24
(6) (a) The Motorcycle Safety Education Commission shall publish a list of approved 25
rider training courses which meet the licensing requirements. 26
(b) The Motorcycle Safety Education Commission shall publish a list of approved 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1052
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instructor training courses which meet the licensing requirements. 1
Section 2. KRS 186.480 (Effective until July 1, 2024) is amended to read as 2
follows: 3
(1) The Department of Kentucky State Police shall examine every applicant for an 4
operator's license as identified in KRS 186.635, except as otherwise provided in this 5
section. The examination shall be held in the county where the applicant resides 6
unless: 7
(a) The applicant is granted written permission by the Transportation Cabinet to 8
take the examination in another county, and the Department of Kentucky State 9
Police agree to arrange for the examination in the other county; or 10
(b) The applicant is tested using a bioptic telescopic device. 11
(2) The examination shall include a test of the applicant's eyesight to ensure 12
compliance with the visual acuity standards set forth in KRS 186.577. The 13
examination shall also include a test of the applicant's ability to read and understand 14
highway signs regulating, warning, and directing traffic, the applicant's knowledge 15
of traffic laws, and an actual demonstration of the applicant's ability to exercise 16
ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor vehicle. The provisions 17
of this subsection shall not apply to an applicant who: 18
(a) At the time of application, holds a valid operator's license from another state, 19
provided that state affords a reciprocal exemption to a Kentucky resident; 20
(b) At the time of application for a motorcycle instruction permit or motorcycle 21
operator's license, presents evidence of successful completion of an 22
approved rider training course under Section 1 of this Act; or 23
(c)[(b)] Is a citizen of the Commonwealth who has been serving in the United 24
States military and has allowed his or her operator's license to expire. 25
(3) In addition to the requirements of subsection (2) of this section, an applicant for a 26
motorcycle operator's license who does not present evidence of successful 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1052
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completion of an approved rider training course under Section 1 of this Act shall 1
be required to show his or her ability to operate a motorcycle. An applicant who 2
successfully completes the skills portion of the test under this subsection on a: 3
(a) Three (3) wheeled motorcycle shall be issued a motorcycle operator's license 4
restricted to the operation of three (3) wheeled motorcycles under KRS 5
186.447; or 6
(b) Two (2) wheeled motorcycle shall be issued a motorcycle operator's license 7
without the restriction identified in KRS 186.447, and may operate both two 8
(2) and three (3) wheeled motorcycles. 9
(4) Any person whose intermediate license or operator's license is denied, suspended, 10
or revoked for cause shall apply for reinstatement at the termination of the period 11
for which the license was denied, suspended, or revoked by submitting to the 12
examination. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any person whose 13
license was suspended for failure to meet the conditions described in KRS 186.411 14
when, within one (1) year of suspension, the driving privileges of such individuals 15
are reinstated. 16
(5) An applicant shall not use an autocycle for any road skills testing administered 17
under the provisions of this section. 18
Section 3. KRS 186.480 (Effective July 1, 2024) is amended to read as follows: 19
(1) The Department of Kentucky State Police shall examine every applicant for an 20
operator's license as identified in KRS 186.635, except as otherwise provided in this 21
section. The examination shall be held in the county where the applicant resides 22
unless: 23
(a) The applicant is granted written permission by the Transportation Cabinet to 24
take the examination in another county; or 25
(b) The applicant is tested using a bioptic telescopic device. 26
(2) The examination shall include a test of the applicant's eyesight to ensure 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1052
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compliance with the visual acuity and visual field standards set forth in KRS 1
186.577. The vision testing outlined in this subsection shall be administered under 2
the provisions established in KRS 186.577 at, or prior to, the time of application. 3
The examination shall also include a test of the applicant's ability to read and 4
understand highway signs regulating, warning, and directing traffic, the applicant's 5
knowledge of traffic laws, and an actual demonstration of the applicant's ability to 6
exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor vehicle. The 7
provisions of this subsection shall not apply to an applicant who: 8
(a) At the time of application, holds a valid operator's license from another state, 9
provided that state affords a reciprocal exemption to a Kentucky resident; 10
(b) At the time of application for a motorcycle instruction permit or motorcycle 11
operator's license, presents evidence of successful completion of an 12
approved rider training course under Section 1 of this Act; or 13
(c)[(b)] Is a citizen of the Commonwealth who has been serving in the United 14
States military and has allowed his or her operator's license to expire. 15
(3) In addition to the requirements of subsection (2) of this section, an applicant for a 16
motorcycle operator's license who does not present evidence of successful 17
completion of an approved rider training course under Section 1 of this Act shall 18
be required to show his or her ability to operate a motorcycle. An applicant who 19
successfully completes the skills portion of the test under this subsection on a: 20
(a) Three (3) wheeled motorcycle shall be issued a motorcycle operator's license 21
restricted to the operation of three (3) wheeled motorcycles under KRS 22
186.447; or 23
(b) Two (2) wheeled motorcycle shall be issued a motorcycle operator's license 24
without the restriction identified in KRS 186.447, and may operate both two 25
(2) and three (3) wheeled motorcycles. 26
(4) Any person whose intermediate license or operator's license is denied, suspended, 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1052
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or revoked for cause shall apply for reinstatement at the termination of the period 1
for which the license was denied, suspended, or revoked by submitting to the 2
examination. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any person whose 3
license was suspended for failure to meet the conditions described in KRS 186.411 4
when, within one (1) year of suspension, the driving privileges of such individuals 5
are reinstated. 6
(5) An applicant shall not use an autocycle for road skills testing administered under 7
the provisions of this section. 8
Section 4. KRS 186.450 is amended to read as follows: 9
(1) A person who is at least sixteen (16) years of age may apply for an instruction 10
permit to operate a motor vehicle. Except as provided in subsection (9) of this 11
section, a person who possesses a valid intermediate motor vehicle operator's 12
license issued under KRS 186.452 or a person who is at least eighteen (18) years of 13
age may apply for an instruction permit to operate a motorcycle. A holder of either 14
a motor vehicle or motorcycle instruction permit may also operate a moped under 15
that permit. A person applying for an instruction permit under this section shall 16
make application to the Transportation Cabinet. A person applying for an 17
instruction permit shall be required to comply with the following: 18
(a) If the person is under the age of eighteen (18), the instruction permit 19
application shall be signed by the applicant's parent or legal guardian. If the 20
person does not have a living parent or does not have a legal guardian, the 21
instruction permit application shall be signed by a person willing to assume 22
responsibility for the applicant pursuant to KRS 186.590; 23
(b) If the person is under the age of eighteen (18) and in the custody of the 24
Cabinet for Health and Family Services, the instruction permit application 25
shall be signed by: 26
1. The applicant's parent, legal guardian, grandparent, adult sibling, aunt, 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1052
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or uncle if the parental rights have not been terminated in accordance 1
with KRS Chapter 625; 2
2. The foster parent with whom the applicant resides; 3
3. Another person who is at least age eighteen (18) and is willing to 4
assume responsibility for the applicant pursuant to KRS 186.590; or 5
4. The applicant, without another person, upon verification by the Cabinet 6
for Health and Family Services in accordance with KRS 605.102 that 7
shall include proof of financial responsibility in accordance with KRS 8
186.590(2); and 9
(c) All applicants for an instruction permit shall comply with the examinations 10
required by KRS 186.480. 11
(2) If an applicant successfully passes the examinations required by KRS 186.480, the 12
applicant shall be issued an instruction permit upon payment of the fee set forth in 13
KRS 186.531. 14
(3) (a) An instruction permit to operate a motor vehicle shall be valid for three (3) 15
years and may be renewed. An instruction permit to operate a motorcycle 16
shall be valid for one (1) year and may be renewed one (1) time. 17
(b) Except as provided in KRS 186.415, a person who has attained the age of 18
sixteen (16) years and is under the age of eighteen (18) years shall have the 19
instruction permit a minimum of one hundred eighty (180) days before 20
applying for an intermediate license and shall have an intermediate license for 21
a minimum of one hundred eighty (180) days before applying for an 22
operator's license. 23
(c) A person who was under eighteen (18) years of age at the time of application 24
for an instruction permit and is eighteen (18) years of age or older shall have 25
the instruction permit a minimum of one hundred eighty (180) days and 26
complete a driver training program under KRS 186.410(4) before applying for 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1052
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an operator's license. 1
(d) A person who is at least eighteen (18) years of age and is under the age of 2
twenty-one (21) years at the time of application for an instruction permit shall 3
have the instruction permit a minimum of one hundred eighty (180) days 4
before applying for an operator's license. 5
(e) A person who is at least twenty-one (21) years of age at the time of 6
application for an instruction permit shall have the instruction permit a 7
minimum of thirty (30) days before applying for an operator's license. 8
(f) In accordance with KRS 176.5062(5), a person whose motorcycle instruction 9
permit has expired may apply to the cabinet to receive a motorcycle operator's 10
license or endorsement if the person presents proof of successful completion 11
of a motorcycle safety education course approved by the Transportation 12
Cabinet under KRS 176.5061 to 176.5069. 13
(4) (a) A person shall have the instruction permit in his or her possession at all times 14
when operating a motor vehicle, motorcycle, or moped upon the highway. 15
(b) When operating a motor vehicle, a motor vehicle instruction permit holder 16
shall be accompanied by a person with a valid operator's license who is at 17
least twenty-one (21) years of age occupying the seat beside the operator at all 18
times. 19
(c) The requirements of paragraph (b) of this subsection shall not apply to a 20
motor vehicle instruction permit holder being supervised on a multiple-21
vehicle driving range by a driver training instructor affiliated with a driver 22
training school licensed under KRS Chapter 332 or a public or nonpublic 23
secondary school. 24
(5) A person with an instruction permit who is under the age of eighteen (18) shall not 25
operate a motor vehicle, motorcycle, or moped between the hours of 12 midnight 26
and 6 a.m. unless the person can demonstrate good cause for driving, including but 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1052
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not limited to emergencies, involvement in school-related activities, or involvement 1
in work-related activities. 2
(6) Except when accompanied by a driver training instructor affiliated with a driver 3
training school licensed under KRS Chapter 332 or a public or nonpublic secondary 4
school, a person with an instruction permit who is under the age of eighteen (18) 5
years shall not operate a motor vehicle at any time when accompanied by more than 6
one (1) unrelated person who is under the age of twenty (20) years. A peace officer 7
shall not stop or seize a person nor issue a uniform citation for a violation of this 8
subsection if the officer has no other cause to stop or seize the person other than a 9
violation of this subsection. This subsection shall not apply to any operator of a 10
vehicle registered under the provisions of KRS 186.050(4) who is engaged in 11
agricultural activities. 12
(7) A violation under subsection (4), (5), or (6) of this section, a conviction for a 13
moving violation under KRS Chapter 189 for which points are assessed by the 14
cabinet, or a conviction for a violation of KRS 189A.010(1) shall add an additional 15
minimum of one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of the violation before a 16
person who is under the age of eighteen (18) years may apply for an intermediate 17
license to operate a motor vehicle, motorcycle, or moped. 18
(8) A person under the age of eighteen (18) who accumulates more than six (6) points 19
against his or her driving privilege may have the driving privilege suspended 20
pursuant to KRS Chapter 186 or probated by the court. 21
(9) An applicant who presents evidence of successful completion of an approved 22
rider training course under Section 1 of this Act shall be not be required to obtain 23
a motorcycle instruction permit prior to obtaining a motorcycle operator's license. 24
(10) The Transportation Cabinet shall promulgate administrative regulations, in 25
accordance with KRS Chapter 13A, to establish procedures for: 26
(a) Minors who reside with individuals in informal guardianship arrangements to 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1052
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have an adult who resides with them sign the minor's application and assume 1
responsibility in accordance with subsection (1) of this section; 2
(b) Individuals who have signed for responsibility under subsection (1) of this 3
section to rescind that assumption of responsibility; 4
(c) Notifying minors when an adult has rescinded responsibility under subsection 5
(1) of this section; and 6
(d) Allowing minors for whom an adult has rescinded responsibility under 7
subsection (1) of this section, to obtain a new signature of an individual 8
assuming responsibility without having to retake any examinations the minor 9
has successfully passed. 10
Section 5. KRS 186.416 is amended to read as follows: 11
(1) If a resident of the Commonwealth currently serving in the United States military is 12
stationed or assigned to a base or other location outside the boundaries of the 13
Commonwealth:[,] 14
(a) The resident may update his or her license electronically or by mail to 15
include a motorcycle operator's endorsement on an existing operator's 16
license; or 17
(b) The resident, or the resident's spouse or dependents, may renew a Class D 18
operator's license issued under this section by mail. If the resident, or his or 19
her spouse or dependents, was issued an "under 21" operator's license, upon 20
the date of the license holder's twenty-first birthday, the "under 21" operator's 21
license may be renewed for an operator's license that no longer contains the 22
outdated reference to being "under 21." 23
(2) A resident of the Commonwealth renewing an operator's license by mail under 24
subsection (1) of this section may have a personal designee apply to the cabinet on 25
behalf of the resident to renew the resident's operator's license. An operator's 26
license for which an endorsement is being added electronically or by mail, or 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1052
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which is being renewed by mail under subsection (1) of this section shall be issued 1
a license bearing the applicant's historical photo if there is a photo on file. If there is 2
no photo on file, the license shall be issued without a photograph and shall show in 3
the space provided for the photograph the legend "valid without photo and 4
signature." 5
(3) (a) 1. If a resident of the Commonwealth has been serving in the United States 6
military stationed or assigned to a base or other location outside the 7
boundaries of the Commonwealth and has allowed his or her operator's 8
license to expire, he or she shall, within ninety (90) days of returning to 9
the Commonwealth, be permitted to renew his or her license without 10
having to take a written test or road test. 11
2. The spouse or dependent of a person identified in subparagraph 1. of 12
this paragraph shall be afforded the same consideration identified in that 13
subparagraph regarding the renewal of an expired operator's license. 14
(b) A person who meets the criteria in paragraph (a) of this subsection shall not 15
be convicted or cited for driving on an expired license prior to license renewal 16
during the ninety (90) days after the person's return to the Commonwealth if 17
the person can provide proof of his or her out-of-state service and dates of 18
assignment. 19
(c) A person who meets the criteria in paragraph (a) of this subsection and who 20
does not renew his or her license within ninety (90) days of returning to the 21
Commonwealth shall be required to comply with the provisions of this 22
chapter governing renewal of a license that has expired. 23
(d) If a resident of the Commonwealth has been issued an "under 21" or "under 24
21 CDL" operator's license and the person is unable to renew the license on 25
the date of his or her twenty-first birthday, the "under 21" or "under 21 CDL" 26
operator's license shall be valid for ninety (90) days beyond the date of the 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1052
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person's twenty-first birthday. 1
(4) (a) Any person who served in the active Armed Forces of the United States, 2
including the Coast Guard, and any member of the National Guard or Reserve 3
Component who completed the member's term of service and was released, 4
separated, discharged, or retired therefrom under either an honorable 5
discharge or a general under honorable conditions discharge may, at the time 6
of initial application or application for renewal or duplicate, request that an 7
operator's license or a personal identification card issued under this chapter 8
bear the word "veteran" on the face or the back of the license or personal 9
identification card. 10
(b) The designation shall be in a style and format considered appropriate by the 11
Transportation Cabinet. Prior to obtaining a designation requested under this 12
subsection, the applicant shall present to the cabinet as proof of eligibility, an 13
original or copy of his or her: 14
1. Unexpired Veteran Identification Card or Veteran Health Identification 15
Card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; 16
2. DD-2, DD-214, DD-256, DD-257, or NGB-22 form; or 17
3. Unexpired Geneva Conventions Identification Card issued by the United 18
States Department of Defense. 19
The cabinet shall not be liable for fraudulent or misread forms presented. 20
(5) The cabinet shall promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS 21
Chapter 13A to establish forms and procedures for facilitating the addition of a 22
motorcycle endorsement to an existing operator's license, both electronically and 23
by mail, in accordance with subsection (1) of this section. 24