[Lonnie_Mac]

First there is the Malorie's Law. Any bike carrying a passenger must have foot rest, (duh) and handholds for use by the passenger. I ride solo so it doesn't affect me really, but those that do, I guess the ole girlfriends hands around your waist doesn't constitute a hand hold anymore.

Then the part that kills me, It is now a class B misdemeanor if I get caught in a completely empty parking lot on a early Sunday morning trying to teach my wife how to learn to ride her bike, such as she did in that video I posted some time ago.

Bill Text: TX HB3838 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Comm Sub | LegiScan

 

[Lonnie_Mac]

You didn't get the part about training right. It says for a concideration which means you get paid for it.

Whew! You legal people get me every time!

 

[Lonnie_Mac]

Oh I get paid alright!

I understand a lot of these new amendments are really going to hurt the new "sport bike" rules they have instituted as well. I guess the sport bike getup's do not have a passenger handhold per-say? I suppose on my 750 the grab rails may qualify, but the issue with all this is that the rules don't really specify what a handhold is or is not.

It's up to the po-po I guess.

 

[Lonnie_Mac]

Also states for Three-wheeled motorcycles, not two

Yea, the amendment and law is broken into many sections. Malorie's Law is for all motorcycles including sport bikes now here in Texas, which the broad law states that a sport bike is a really really fast bike that can make really fast turns and go fast. And you can lean over the gas tank. Basically... I guess it all started a few years ago when a girl holding on to her boyfriend who was riding on a sport bike, well he and the bike went one way in a turn and she went the other. It didn't end well.

Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER M. ADDITIONAL OR ALTERNATIVE EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR
MOTORCYCLES, [AND] MOTOR-DRIVEN CYCLES, AND SPORT BIKES
SECTION 6. Subchapter M, Chapter 547, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 547.803 to read as follows:
Sec. 547.803. SAFETY EQUIPMENT. If a motorcycle, including
a sport bike, is designed to carry more than one person, the
motorcycle must be equipped with foot pegs and handholds for use by
a passenger on the motorcycle.

 

[Lonnie_Mac]

It's not too bad in practice, all new bikes with a double seat have grab rails as do all the shadows.. you can either have two loop rails, one on each side or one loop at the back.. as long as the passenger can reach them it is ok.. our laws go further, we have to be insured to carry a passenger and the passenger must wear a helmet.. we can not teach someone to ride in a supermarket car park unless they have passed a CBT test and have a learners license.. but these are laws I can tolerate.. I don't like the fact that I am forced to wear a helmet and to carry a spare one with me in case I pick up a hitch hiker, I don't like to pay extra insurance, and I don't like speed traps on highways but those are our laws now and I can live with them.

John.

John, do you realize that in Texas, it is illegal to drink standing up?

I totally agree with your sentiment. With our laws, I think at the worst case, they could ride up and ticket my wife for riding without a permit or license even though she is just learning in a big empty parking lot. But most of the po-po I know in these parts would likely get out and help me give her pointers. I think even the AMA has had big issues with some of our laws though as they are so vague.

 

[Lonnie_Mac]

Here, a great-while back, I asked the police chief (gotta love small towns) if it was okay to practice early morning in the Home Depot Parking lot when nobody was there and the store was closed..

"It's private property, you would have to get permission from the store.." I was told, and then I was commended for calling to ask and for not engaging in practicing in rush hour traffic.. :lol:

So I did.. Home depot store manager "I don't have a problem with that"

..Seems a little odd that a store parking lot is considered public domain and under police jurisdiction when they ain't publicly owned?

Meh... It's all likely in the fine-print

Yep! All store properties around here are private. Kinda stayed away from them as the really big ones here are open 24 hrs. We have a HUGE place I like to go and it hasn't been a problem really. I am going to continue to take the wife there and teach her to ride. So if my next post is from an obscure prison library, you'll know.

 

[Lonnie_Mac]

I had to look that one up...it is okay, but no more than three sips. Best to have a seat if you plan to chug. :lol:

Yep! More of them hangover laws from the past. They are fun to read at times. Most here know that my other passion in life is brewing. Been brewing since the early days when Jimmy Carter finally made home brewing legal. In Texas, it is VERY illegal to own a common flask. (Pic below for you non scientist!) I have them all over the garage, wash them out every brew day and place them on the driveway to dry. Had several cops over on brew day, all nice fellers, some my friends. To this day they don't know that in Texas you can't own a common Erlenmeyer flask without a special permit from DPS.

 

[Lonnie_Mac]

Not only did that say it was about 'training for consideration', but it also said that it was for "three-wheeled" 'motorcycles' for the passenger handholds.

We pretty much covered this on the first page. This new handhold law is for any motorcycle that carries two passengers. Lucky for me, I am set up for solo only. In any case, this new Malorie's Law will make a few aftermarket seat manufactures happy I am sure! (If anyone can define the actual law)