Changes to PA state licensing law

fodder650 · July 14, 2006, 01:17:03 PM

If you have a class M license in Pennsylvania this doesn't apply to you. It does apply if you need to renew your permit or get a new one.

But as of June 16th. You can no longer get a motorcycle permit by mail. Now you need to go to a drivers center and take a written test. Just like when you get a drivers permit here in the state. It's called the Motorcycle Knowledge Test.

Here in PA it was always incredibly easy to get a permit. And then to just ride with it basically for the rest of your life. And you never had to think twice. Now myself I got my permit, took the MSF class which turned it into a license. But a lot of riders never took the test to get their licenses. I found out about this when the state sent me a letter that stated "Our records indicate that you have registered a motorcycle in your name".

Again this doesn't effect me since I've been a licensed rider for seven years. But this will effect a lot of riders in Pennsylvania. Part of me thinks this is happening because we rescinded the helmet law. And with the Roethensberger accident. They want to slow down the numbers of riders on bikes. But I think its a good change.

Now what do the rest of you think? And in your home state (or for our Irish and Aussie friends, home country) what did you have to do to get your permit or license?

Matty B 500 · July 14, 2006, 01:28:34 PM

i have a question ..... im only 16 ... but since im not 18 .. after the MSF will i get my license?

fodder650 · July 14, 2006, 01:44:50 PM

Thats a good question. Its how i got my license. But if you look at the site for PA MSF www.pamsp.com it almost looks you wouldn't get it until you did the expert class.

No idea at this point sorry.

Chris2P · July 14, 2006, 05:30:05 PM

When I took the MSF course, you still had to take the motorcycle test to get the "M" on your license. That was a long time ago though.

Chris

bargovic · July 14, 2006, 05:44:56 PM

Yeah, PA still has a pretty sweet deal. You can still take the MSF course for free, and get your license if you pass the written and riding test at the end. You now have to take a written test that any moron can pass to get the permit. This is instead of just paying the $15 and saying "id like a motorcycle permit." Other states, like NY charge a few hundred dollars for the MSF course and they are backed up for an entire season. I moved to PA last year, decided to get my first bike and license. I paid $15 for a permit when i changed my license from NY to PA. Got my car insurnce for $400 cheaper per year lol, signed up for a free msf course in june, took the course in august, and bought the GS. My friends up in NY, MA, and NH are all jelous of how easy i got it. But i wonder about the restrictions on transfering your PA moto license to another state.

blue05twin · July 14, 2006, 09:18:09 PM

I know in Ga they won't take out of state mc license anymore. My brother in law had to take the test to get his.

NiceGuysFinishLast · July 14, 2006, 10:20:15 PM

Quote from: blue05twin on July 14, 2006, 09:18:09 PM
I know in Ga they won't take out of state mc license anymore. My brother in law had to take the test to get his.

shaZam!, are you serious? That was my whole plan! DAMN YOU GEORGIA!!!!!

What's the GA test entail? I.e., if I passed the MSF, can I pass the DMV test?

My other option is to just keep riding on my florida license, as all states are supposed to reciprocate with their neighbors.

aaronstj · July 14, 2006, 10:47:57 PM

Quote from: NiceGuysFinishLast on July 14, 2006, 10:20:15 PM
What's the GA test entail? I.e., if I passed the MSF, can I pass the DMV test?

It's likely the same test, or nearly the same. Practice your figure eights.

NiceGuysFinishLast · July 15, 2006, 06:34:35 AM

Quote from: aaronstj on July 14, 2006, 10:47:57 PM
Quote from: NiceGuysFinishLast on July 14, 2006, 10:20:15 PM
What's the GA test entail? I.e., if I passed the MSF, can I pass the DMV test?
It's likely the same test, or nearly the same. Practice your figure eights.

Bwahaha... I have been. I can now do figure eights in my driveway. That was the FIRST thing I practiced when I started riding the GS...

The Buddha · July 15, 2006, 09:39:24 PM

PA also had that instant permit thing ... Gone

Cool.
Srinath.

fodder650 · July 16, 2006, 07:44:42 AM

Yeah always loved the logic of it to.

Drivers Permit - Can't drive without a licensed passenger
Motorycle permit - Can only ride solo no passengers

Unnamed · July 16, 2006, 01:53:40 PM

I personally think Illinois has a mix of smart and dumb. For the smart, to get a permit, you have to take a(n easy) test. For the dumb, you can't ride with the permit unless you're with someone who has had their license for a couple years. Might work out well for some people, but I don't know anyone with a license, so it makes no sense at all for me to get a permit.

As for the license, you can pass a skills test (similar to MSF, but no figure

and they'll give it to you. Or, you can sign up for a free couse, modeled on the MSF, which the state provides for thousands of riders each year. At the end of the course you take the license test and don't have to take it at the DMV. I think its genius for them to subsidize the class since it undoubtably gets more people trained than if they had to pay $200 for it.

fodder650 · July 16, 2006, 03:54:25 PM

And also probaly lowers the insurance for every licensed driver in the state. And lowers their fatalities on the road and such. One of those times that spending money ultimatley saves it

blue05twin · July 16, 2006, 06:22:07 PM

Ga. permit take the writen test ( very easy) then you are allowed to ride during daylight hrs wihtout a passanger.

The road test

is not hard but they do trick you. On the quick stop a person failed because he DIDN'T lock the rear break. I know stupid but he failed because of that.

But if you passed the MSF then you should pass the riding test the rest was very easy.

And hey double check my brother in law moved here from Texas and would not take his, maybe sense Fl is next door they will

.

Unnamed · July 16, 2006, 07:17:35 PM

Quote from: fodder650 on July 16, 2006, 03:54:25 PM
And also probaly lowers the insurance for every licensed driver in the state. And lowers their fatalities on the road and such. One of those times that spending money ultimatley saves it

Youd think so... then the stupid laws kick in again. We don't have a helmet law.

fodder650 · July 16, 2006, 09:14:34 PM

Neither do we here in Pa. Gotta wear a seatbelt. But if you want to splat your head on the curb. Go right the heck ahead

NiceGuysFinishLast · July 17, 2006, 06:07:45 AM

Quote from: blue05twin on July 16, 2006, 06:22:07 PM
The road test is not hard but they do trick you. On the quick stop a person failed because he DIDN'T lock the rear break. I know stupid but he failed because of that.

SAME thing happened to one of my friends in GA. I thought it was retarded. Everyone knows that a wheel that's skidding has much less traction than a wheel that is not. Sheesh. I thought he just had a retarded proctor. Maybe they're all dumb. Or maybe the same guy graded both tests...

blue05twin · July 17, 2006, 08:36:02 AM

Niceguy quick question. Why are you changing your license to Ga.? You comming here to go to colledge, unless your a Ga. resident you will be paying out of state tution anyway. So you might as well keep your Fl. license. Unless you have somebody living here and are going to use their address or do you live an Ga. and only wen't to Fl for vacation / school was out?

NiceGuysFinishLast · July 17, 2006, 05:42:28 PM

I'm a GA resident.

Looooooooong story..

I graduated HS here in Florida in May of '04. In August of '04, I moved to Kennesaw, got a job at HHGregg, and found a roommate through roommateclick.com or some such website. Lived for a year, worked, paid taxes, registered to vote, registered my car, had a GA license, etc. Now I'm a GA resident, and in August of '05, I started as a freshman, paying in state tuition.

Now I'm back in FL, and I got a duplicate copy of my FL license, but I was very specific in stating that I'm NOT a FL resident. So all is good. Now I have to take that FL license to the DMV in GA and get it changed back. I figure Tech will never know or care, and that once I'm paying in-state, I'm always gonna pay in-state, but better safe than sorry, no?

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Changes to PA state licensing law