Description

If you plan to do some traveling on your motorcycle, this book will give you an easy-to-navigate, state-by-state breakdown of all the important rules and regulations that motorcyclists must abide by. From basic tips on how to keep from being noticed and pulled over, to ensuring a safe stop, Pat Hahn gives you all the information you'll need to keep your riding record clean. But Hahn does not stop there; he also includes info on how to defend yourself in court, which makes this book essential reading for every motorcycle rider.
Book Excerpt: Motorcyclist's Legal Handbook: Handling Legal Situations From the Mundane to the Insane U.S. MOTORCYCLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS

OVERVIEW If you want to adopt a riding policy that will keep you squeaky clean no matter what state you're in, this is the chapter for you. The State-by-State Guide parses out states by their individual idiosyncrasies (idiocracies is a better term - thank you, Jay Moorehead). But if you don't want to have to worry in some faraway state whether you're legal or not, you have to get your bike, gear, and riding aligned with the U.S. baseline. This is specific guidance for what's generally legally allowed and what is not generally legally allowed in the United States. Here we summarize the laws of all 50 states, assume you're willing to conform to every last one of them to ensure a smooth trip, and dole them out as marching orders. No guarantees, of course, but if you've got all these covered, the only way you're going to get pulled over is for doing something really, really stupid.
LICENSE In this book, I make the assumption that you have a valid driver's license with a motorcycle endorsement. If you don't have that at the very least, I cannot help you. You've got no ground to stand on. Every time you're stopped by law enforcement, you're going to end up getting your bike towed. However, some of us are still learning and riding on motorcycle permits and don't yet have licenses. There are a few things you need to know. Scroll a little further down and you'll find the information you're looking for under "permit restrictions."
HELMET LAWS Here's the big issue: In what states am I required to wear a helmet, and in what states is it optional? If you want to be legal in every state, wear a DOT-labeled, properly fastened helmet. Helmet laws are all over the place in this country. Most every state, except those holdouts in Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire, have some kind of helmet law. (Actually, scratch that - New Hampshire now has a partial helmet law). Subject: Motorcycling: Riding: Travel: Motorcyclist's Legal Handbook. U.S. motorcycle laws, traffic stops, how to fight a ticket, etc. ISBN-10: 0760340234 | ISBN-13: 9780760340233 | Motorbooks 149866

TABLE of CONTENTS: