State by State Motorcycle Law

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RockBottom
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#11 Unread post by RockBottom »

Lion_Lady wrote:Sound Reducing (hearing protection) earplugs are legal. But, earbuds (iPod, etc) are ILLEGAL in Maryland.

P
Here's what the statute actually says:

§ 21-1120. Wearing earphones, headsets, etc., prohibited.

(a) Earplugs.- A person may not drive a motor vehicle on any highway or on any private property that is used by the public in general in this State while the person is wearing over or in both ears earplugs.

(b) Headsets.- A person may not drive a motor vehicle on any highway or on any private property that is used by the public in general in this State while the person is wearing over or in both ears a headset.

(c) Earphones.- A person may not drive a motor vehicle on any highway or on any private property that is used by the public in general in this State while the person is wearing over or in both ears earphones attached to a radio, tape player, or other audio device.

(d) Exceptions.- The provisions of subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section do not apply to:

(1) A person engaged in the operation of either special construction equipment or equipment for use in the maintenance of any highway;

(2) A person engaged in the operation of refuse collection equipment who is wearing a safety headset or safety earplugs;

(3) A person wearing personal hearing protectors in the form of custom earplugs or molds that are designed to reduce injurious noise levels. However, custom plugs or molds shall be designed in such a manner as to not inhibit the wearer's ability to hear a siren or horn from an emergency vehicle or a horn from another vehicle; or

(4) A person wearing a prosthetic device used to aid the hard of hearing.


I'm not a lawyer, but it sure sounds to me like you could make a case in court if charged that foam earplugs are "custom" hearing protectors "designed to reduce injurious noise levels." And since the average emergency vehicle siren is 118 decibels and foam ear plugs offer at most a 33 Db reduction, they would seem to be legal.

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ofblong
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#12 Unread post by ofblong »

same thing in michigan as maryland. That site doesnt say it though.
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#13 Unread post by Lion_Lady »

There are a lot of such "semantics" issues out there in legislation. Don't get your undies in a bunch over it.

Suffice it to say I asked an authority (whom I trust implicitly to KNOW) how the law is to be enforced in Md. "Foamies" are legal in Md.

P
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good to know

#14 Unread post by Purple Princess »

The site at top was helpful. I want to know about going through lights. When you sit there forever & the light doesnt change for you b/c it doesnt sense the bike. Any sites for more laws??
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Re: good to know

#15 Unread post by SCgurl »

Purple Princess wrote:The site at top was helpful. I want to know about going through lights. When you sit there forever & the light doesnt change for you b/c it doesnt sense the bike. Any sites for more laws??
SC just passed a law that if you've been sitting at the light for at least one cycle + 2 minutes and it hasn't changed, you can treat the red light as a stop sign. Don't know if other states have done that.
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#16 Unread post by RockBottom »

Lion_Lady wrote:There are a lot of such "semantics" issues out there in legislation. Don't get your undies in a bunch over it.

Suffice it to say I asked an authority (whom I trust implicitly to KNOW) how the law is to be enforced in Md. "Foamies" are legal in Md.

P
I may have to put that to the test today. I was planning to get in 200 miles or so in the Amish farmland and mountains to the west and north of me, but there's a pile of light rain sitting there, so I may head down to the Catoctins, maybe even loop over to Harper's Ferry.

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goodies
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Re: good to know

#17 Unread post by goodies »

SCgurl wrote:
Purple Princess wrote:The site at top was helpful. I want to know about going through lights. When you sit there forever & the light doesnt change for you b/c it doesnt sense the bike. Any sites for more laws??
SC just passed a law that if you've been sitting at the light for at least one cycle + 2 minutes and it hasn't changed, you can treat the red light as a stop sign. Don't know if other states have done that.
They just passed that in NC too. But the instructors at my BF's MSF last weekend said it was still iffy about whether you would get ticketed or not. They said it would be a he said....she said with the cops, and that they would probably pull you over if they seen you.

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Re: good to know

#18 Unread post by SCgurl »

goodies wrote:
SCgurl wrote:
Purple Princess wrote:The site at top was helpful. I want to know about going through lights. When you sit there forever & the light doesnt change for you b/c it doesnt sense the bike. Any sites for more laws??
SC just passed a law that if you've been sitting at the light for at least one cycle + 2 minutes and it hasn't changed, you can treat the red light as a stop sign. Don't know if other states have done that.
They just passed that in NC too. But the instructors at my BF's MSF last weekend said it was still iffy about whether you would get ticketed or not. They said it would be a he said....she said with the cops, and that they would probably pull you over if they seen you.
Hmmmm...I've had to do this a few times in front of cops and haven't been pulled, although these sensors don't even pick up cars most of the time. Prior to the law being passed, cops would wave bikes and cars through the lights that didn't change.

Besides, don't all cop cars have cameras now? I know here, you can ask for the video for traffic cases. That would help eliminate the "he said, she said" factor.
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Re: good to know

#19 Unread post by DieMonkeys »

SCgurl wrote:
goodies wrote:
SCgurl wrote:
Purple Princess wrote:The site at top was helpful. I want to know about going through lights. When you sit there forever & the light doesnt change for you b/c it doesnt sense the bike. Any sites for more laws??
SC just passed a law that if you've been sitting at the light for at least one cycle + 2 minutes and it hasn't changed, you can treat the red light as a stop sign. Don't know if other states have done that.
They just passed that in NC too. But the instructors at my BF's MSF last weekend said it was still iffy about whether you would get ticketed or not. They said it would be a he said....she said with the cops, and that they would probably pull you over if they seen you.
Hmmmm...I've had to do this a few times in front of cops and haven't been pulled, although these sensors don't even pick up cars most of the time. Prior to the law being passed, cops would wave bikes and cars through the lights that didn't change.

Besides, don't all cop cars have cameras now? I know here, you can ask for the video for traffic cases. That would help eliminate the "he said, she said" factor.
The road the comes out from 17 to Sam Rittenburg, near the mall, the one that comes out at BB&T on Sam Ritt. (I think it's DuPont), that light is notorious for those turning left onto Sam Ritt. for not changing. I remember sitting there one night for about 10 minutes and finally getting pissed off a running it.
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#20 Unread post by BlackCowboy »

I ride a 250 do I need a liscense in the state of Texas

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