A State Representative is pushing for a bill HB655 that would allow motorcyclists to renew their temporary instruction permit for two additional six month periods. State Representative Tom Hurst (R-St. Thomas) says this would allow a person who has been issued a temporary motorcycle permit to renew the permit two more times during a total maximum period of 18 months.
Hurst considers the bill to be a safety issue concerning motorcyclists. “The permit holder must then pass a skills test to continue riding on public roads,” he said. “Currently, a motorcyclist can renew their six month permit for an indefinite number of times.”
He says this would allow motorcyclists to drive as long as they want without having to prove their competancy to drive. However, Representative Glen Kolkmeyer (R-Wellington) questions the intention of the bill. “Basically, if there isn’t a deadline, or an expiration date, or a drop-dead; then there is no incentive to go get the license or do the training,” he said.
Hurst says the bill also repeals an age and distance restriction; on the limitation of engine size, if an individual is under the age of 16 and the motorcyclist not being able to travel more than 50 miles from their home address.
AUDIO: Mary Farucci reports. (1:03)
