Sidecar and Trike Education Program Gets Recognized by
State
 Locke signs
critical bill that will up Three Wheel safety measures
Quietly, and without much announcement or fanfare,
Governor Gary Locke signed ESSB 5229 into law on Thursday, April 17th.
In effect, what this new law does is:
1) Effective January 1, 2004 the Washington Motorcycle
Safety Program is required to offer both Novice and Advanced training to both
2-wheeled and 3-wheeled motorcycles. The courses must be separate and
unique to each type of motorcycle.
2) It creates two new categories of motorcycle endorsement
within WA state. A "3-wheeled motorcycle only" endorsement, and a "Both 2
and 3-wheeled motorcycles". It changes the current "motorcycle"
endorsement to "2-wheeled motorcycle only".
3) It mandates that testing for each type of motorcycle
endorsement must be separate and designed to test the different skills required
of each type of motorcycle. It also requires that if you desire the "both
2 and 3-wheeled motorcycle endorsement" that you be tested on both types prior
to obtaining your endorsement.
To read the bill in its entirety visit
http://www.leg.wa.gov/wsladm/billinfo/dspBillSummary.cfm?billnumber=5229
The Department of Licensing plans to implement this by
grandfathering anyone currently holding a "3" (motorcycle) endorsement into the
new "both" category.
In addition S/TEP classes will be funded in part by state
funds just the way MSF courses currently are. Those funds will be created by way
of a $25 three wheel endorsement fee the same way $25 is charged to two wheelers
now upon their license renewal.
Dave Wendell of the Evergreen Safety Council was
appreciative of the efforts and support that made the bill reality – "It took a
bit of effort to get this legislation through, and thanks for that effort goes
to the entire Washington RoadRiders Association; and most especially Karen Bolin
and Larry Walker without whose knowledge, patience and expertise this wouldn't
have happened. I also want to thank all the sponsors of the bill and those
legislators who voted for it; most especially Senator Haugen whose tireless
efforts kept this bill from floundering when it could have, and Senator Horn for
supporting the bill and bringing it up in his Transportation Committee."
 For those in
Washington State, it won't be long before S/TEP classes will be just as much a
part of the WMSP as MSF classes.
Editors note: The term "Sidecar/Trike Education Program"
is a copyright owned by The
Evergreen Safety Council.
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