Motorcycle endorsement in WA, and towing

[LDRydr]

(Cross-posted to LDRider list)

The time had come, once again, to renew my driver license. Our great state of Washington even allows this to be done online, (if you want to stand in line all day at an office you can do that, too). After securely entering in the required pertinent info I was a little miffed to see that the fee to renew a driver license was $25, and if I wanted to keep my motorcycle endorsement it would be an additional $25. They were kind enough to offer to remove my motorcycle endorsement if I wanted to save $25.

WTH? I don’t remember getting charged extra for this in Oregon at renewal time (I believe it was a one-time charge). Is my extra $25 somehow being used to fund rider education for noobs in our state? Is it being used for programs to educate cage drivers that they need to be aware there are two-wheelers out there moving about? Is it being used to help offset prosecution costs for drivers that kill riders? What’s the deal in your state?

As I dug out my VISA card to fork over my hard-earned dough and continued in the renewal process I found a page where I could look up, by driver license number, whether or not I have a valid license, what type of license, and what endorsements it has. I found this interesting as a new WA state law (that just went info effect) allows for law enforcement to tow motorcycles when a rider is stopped for a traffic violation and not found to have a valid endorsement. This page, https://fortress.wa.gov/dol/ddl/dsd/ , would allow a dealer selling a bike to verify a rider has a valid endorsement. Why they can’t look at the riders license is beyond me, but anyway….

Lastly, when I went to register my new (to me) '06 FJR I was surprised to learn I did NOT have to provide proof of liability/UM insurance, although this is slated to change next year (can you say duh!).

Dennis in Washington

 

[Ignacio]

Welcome to Washington. Isn't it interesting that states do things differently since the 10th Amendment?

It does seems a bit steep that renewals of endorsements cost as much at the drivers license....especially since there's no test to administer, but not enough to get up and arms about I guess.

I found disbursement of motorycle endorsement via Google fairly easily here and it says money goes to "motorcycle safety education account of the highway safety fund".

As for a law being "slated to change"...that would seem presumptuous as only the legislature can change a law.

And, looking at the information displayed when you pop in a license number...it seems the right level. There isn't private information that one could stalk somebody, but see if they have a valid license, expiration, and various other yes or no statuses to permit and endorsement level. Slick actually!

As always citizens concerned about fees, laws, or how funds are used, they should contact their legislator and make their opinion known.

Thanks for keeping this political thread specifically about motorcycles.

 

[ponyfool]

Most states define an endorsement as the actual license. In other words, a driver's license is merely an endorsement for a car or light truck. A motorcycle endorsement is for the license to ride motorcycles similar to how a commercial endorsement is a license to allow the operation of a specific type of commercial vehicle.

As for the towing of vehicles without the endorsement, using the above explanation, you may be better able to understand the logic. Many, if not most states, now authorize the towing of anyone driving without a license. We have been able to tow commercial vehicles for years for having someone operate one without the appropriate endorsement. Motorcycles are no different in that way.

Personally, and not just as a LEO, I like the fact that there are sanctions outside of court for people who don't have a valid license. Here in Oregon, the ONLY sanction for driving without a license is a fine. If you don't pay the fine, they suspend your license. What good is it to suspend someone's license that already has a suspended license. We have become a "stop or I'll yell stop again" type state with no teeth. There is literally no incentive for a non-licensed person to get a license. With towing, there is now an incentive, however small it may be.

As for motorcycles specifically, I strongly believe that the testing process through DMV should be tossed out in lieu of an MSF type qualification. Many states do this already. But if you don't have an endorsement, you shouldn't be riding, period! Motorcycles have enough bad press, and squids that crash on the first day of owning a bike without first getting an endorsement don't help that.

Can't comment on the fees though, you are right, Oregon's is significantly cheaper, although if I remember correctly, I did have to pay (I think $9) to maintain the endorsement. But, that $9 was for an 8 year license.

 

[LDRydr]

As for a law being "slated to change"...that would seem presumptuous as only the legislature can change a law.

What the DMV talking-head said was that the law was passed (changed) but just has not gone into effect yet. I personally am glad it's changing.

Also just found this that went into effect 7/22/07: (mc-content included)

Motorcycle driver’s license (SB 5273): Five dollars of the motorcycle endorsement fee will go into the Motorcycle Safety Education Account. Information on motorcycle awareness in motorcycle driver training courses must be approved by the Department of Licensing Director, rather than the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. The use of radio or intercom-equipped helmets at the DOL motorcycle safety class is no longer necessary. The maximum fee for the motorcycle safety education class is increased to $125.

Dennis

 

[Auburn]

Welcome to Washington.
I found disbursement of motorycle endorsement and it says money goes to "motorcycle safety education account of the highway safety fund".

As for a law being "slated to change"...that would seem presumptuous as only the legislature can change a law.

Wouldn't be surprised to somehow see the LEO's finding a way to hijack some of the added endorsement fees as a way to target us for enforcement, I mean education, and justifying it as part of the "highway safety fund" :headbonk:

Of course our legislature hasn't seen a dollor they couldn't spend, which means we get bent over again, be nice if they kissed us first :lol:

 

[Ignacio]

Wouldn't be surprised to somehow see the LEO's finding a way to hijack some of the added endorsement fees as a way to target us for enforcement, I mean education, and justifying it as part of the "highway safety fund" :headbonk:
Of course our legislature hasn't seen a dollor they couldn't spend, which means we get bent over again, be nice if they kissed us first :lol:

And just how are these political comments motorcycle related? These are the kind of off-topic comments that get threads closed my friend. Please stick to bikes......preferably even FJRs.

 

[juniorfjr]

I too had to renew recently and of course they asked if I wanted to renew my endorsement. When I said that was my intention, the examiner noted that my endorsement was one of original old school. The state had created a new endorsement classification for trikes and sidecars and I could be grandfathered into that class with no additional fees. Soo, anyone know of a trike conversion for the fjr.

 

[kulwen]

NV has a $6 charge tagged onto the yearly bike registration for the rider safety program. The current MSF funded programs are set not to cost more then $100.

Truth be told, I would not mind paying $12 a year. $6 for the rider safety program and $6 to be used to educated and promote auto drivers to be aware of motorcyclist.