Florida "Skills Test" for a Sidecar

Why not check with the Motor Vehicle Licensing Division? They'd know.
Some States have no special endorsements for sidecars or trikes, some have testing and licensing for sidecar and trike operation only, some have an additional endorsement added on the Drivers license.

Lonnie

This comes from the hand Fla handbook.

“On-cycle skill tests are not designed for sidecars or three-wheel vehicles. Those vehicles maneuver differently than a two-wheeled motorcycle. Depending on the state, a driver examiner may follow you on a car test-route. Restrictions (sidecar, three-wheeled vehicle) may be added until completion of a two-wheel cycle test.”

This will take you to the book.

http://www.lowestpricetrafficschool.com/handbooks/motorcycle/en

You are in St. Lucie County and have only one office that give M/C skills test. Thay will know.

http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/offices/stlucie.html

I think that all states except Washington State allow a person that takes a solo test to operate a sidecar rig. They also have in place that if a person takes a test on a sidecar or trike he or she is then restricted to riding with three wheels and is not endoresed for two. This is not a bad thing as it allows those who are handicapped or do not want to ride a solo machine to still get a liscense.
In Washingtom State you are rerquired to get a seperate liscense to operate a sidecar or trike. Much discussion on the Washington State fiasco is on the Yahoo Group called 'Sidecar Issues'. Sidecar Issues is a Yahoo site which means you will have to get a Yahoo name and passowrd to enter it. This is not a real big deal just follow the steps. Once there click on messages at the left of the screen to get into the adchived posts. There you will find info on the Washington State law when it was initiated etc.. There is also much discussion on the law there, some of it a little heated.
Click here:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/sidecarissues/

Fiasco? Wouldn't have an opinion, would you Claude? Guess I do too.

Several years ago I showed up to take a test in a side car. Examiner did not know what to do. Cell phoned Albany. "issue a trike endorcement" A year or so later I went back to take the 2 wheel exam. "You already have a permit." Out came the cell phone. "Test on two wheels cancel three wheel permit." In NY 2 wheels also cover three wheels even if it does not indicate it on the permit.

Vernon Mauk
1500 Drifter
Hannigan Classic

Claude,
I am a party (Perp?) to the Washington State "Fiasco".
Two years ago at around re-election time, Ms. Mary Margaret Hausen, the Chairperson of the Washington State Transportation Commission came knocking at our door seeking our vote. Since we are involved in a motor vehicle related business, during our talk she asked were their any issues that I thought should be addressed in the next legislative session.
I told her we dealt with many handicapped clients who were unable to pass the State's 2 wheel motorcycle licensing endorsement test and could not get a cycle endorsement or drivers insurance and drive a Sidecar combo or trike legally (in Washington) due to that fact. I suggested a three wheel only endorsement policy to eliminate discrimination against those who could not balance a 2 wheeled motorcycle.
Another point I brought up was the lack of parity between 2 wheel training programs which are State subsidized, using unlicensed vehicles not needing road insurance for their training purposes. Whereas for three wheel training, being unsubsidized, the students were forced to pay the full amount of their training program and had to furnish their own Sidecar outfit or trike, fully licensed and insured, for the State driving test.
Ms. Haugen said she would look into it and left. I expected that (like most politicians) the matter would end there.
Not so! In a couple of weeks I got a phone call from one of her aide's and we discussed the dilemma facing three wheelers and prospective Sidehackers. Soon after, I got calls from S/TEP instructors, the President of the Evergreen Safety Council and others, asking "What in the hell's going on?" we're getting calls from Olympia about Sidecarists and Trikers.
Having stirred the pot, I then deferred the particulars of the matter to Dave Wendell who, along with the Evergreen Safety Council, prepared a document for presentation at the next session of the Transportation Commitee with their suggested changes in the licensing laws.

(I have a copy of their document if anyone wants to peruse it).

Ultimately the Legislature acted on the issues and put the changes into State law.
Sadly, Washington State having no income tax supplants their coffers with fees and taxes. Usury taxes, sales taxes, fee taxes, tax taxes and you name it fees and taxes. Enter the Tax Commission and another vehicle licensing tax for a separate Three wheel vehicle license endorsement.
You gotta love it!
However they did offer amnesty to currently No.3 endorsed cyclists at the time so they could get their No.7 (2 and 3 wheel) endorsement free for a year without having to pay for or take sidecar training, or a driving test.

Lonnie (the guilty party) Cook
Northwest Sidecar

Lone I would like to get a copy of that can you contack me off line as to how to get oneRon CampbellColorado State Rep

Well I do not feel as bad about Florida’s now. One of our is that if you take your test on 3 wheels you can only ride 3 wheels but if you take it on two you can ride any motorcycle and Sidecar rigs and trikes are motorcycle. Now here comes a good part if you are under 21 years old you have to go through a state approved school. Of over 50 schools in the state in the last month I have found two that will work with three wheelers. One has a trike and will work with you if you have a sidecar rig the other is just setting up their 1st rig. Some of the other school will test you on 3 wheels for a price but no schooling.

Originally written by Hack'n on 10/19/2006 4:54 PM

Claude,
I am a party (Perp?) to the Washington State "Fiasco".
Two years ago at around re-election time, Ms. Mary Margaret Hausen, the Chairperson of the Washington State Transportation Commission came knocking at our door seeking our vote. Since we are involved in a motor vehicle related business, during our talk she asked were their any issues that I thought should be addressed in the next legislative session.
I told her we dealt with many handicapped clients who were unable to pass the State's 2 wheel motorcycle licensing endorsement test and could not get a cycle endorsement or drivers insurance and drive a Sidecar combo or trike legally (in Washington) due to that fact. I suggested a three wheel only endorsement policy to eliminate discrimination against those who could not balance a 2 wheeled motorcycle.
Another point I brought up was the lack of parity between 2 wheel training programs which are State subsidized, using unlicensed vehicles not needing road insurance for their training purposes. Whereas for three wheel training, being unsubsidized, the students were forced to pay the full amount of their training program and had to furnish their own Sidecar outfit or trike, fully licensed and insured, for the State driving test.
Ms. Haugen said she would look into it and left. I expected that (like most politicians) the matter would end there.
Not so! In a couple of weeks I got a phone call from one of her aide's and we discussed the dilemma facing three wheelers and prospective Sidehackers. Soon after, I got calls from S/TEP instructors, the President of the Evergreen Safety Council and others, asking "What in the hell's going on?" we're getting calls from Olympia about Sidecarists and Trikers.
Having stirred the pot, I then deferred the particulars of the matter to Dave Wendell who, along with the Evergreen Safety Council, prepared a document for presentation at the next session of the Transportation Commitee with their suggested changes in the licensing laws.

(I have a copy of their document if anyone wants to peruse it).

Ultimately the Legislature acted on the issues and put the changes into State law.
Sadly, Washington State having no income tax supplants their coffers with fees and taxes. Usury taxes, sales taxes, fee taxes, tax taxes and you name it fees and taxes. Enter the Tax Commission and another vehicle licensing tax for a separate Three wheel vehicle license endorsement.
You gotta love it!
However they did offer amnesty to currently No.3 endorsed cyclists at the time so they could get their No.7 (2 and 3 wheel) endorsement free for a year without having to pay for or take sidecar training, or a driving test.

Lonnie (the guilty party) Cook
Northwest Sidecar

==================================================
I knew you were involved at the start of that Lonnie. With what seemed loke good intentions I may ad. Like I said 'a fiasco'...not an opinion a fact!!
All we need now is to have the governemt want to make sidecar rigs a reconstructed vehicle or whatever to gain a few more dollars ...another fiasco? Probably, ...lets hope it never happens!!
Most of this 'Fiasco' is on the sidecarissues site. With much discussion with Dave Wendall.It is dated somewhat now but was current at the time. I am not sure who Dave wendall is working with today he seems to change hats a lot.
Nuff said

What a load of crap! Licensing of sidecarists in Washington state pays for sidecar training available through the Evergreen Safety Council and others. (The S/TEP course) WE - sidecarists and motorcyclists - signed up for it. WE think it is a good idea. WE now have training and the ability for folks who would not otherwise be able to, to get a sidecar license and enjoy sidecars and the mobility they provide. What do you have?

Dave Wendell is someone dedicated to motorcycle and sidecar safety through education. To imply that he is somehow unworthy or not to be believed or unsavory is, or ought to be, beneath you.

In Arizona you take the same skill test as 2 wheels. Only the bike is judged, they don't modify/move the cones to fit the entire rig. Your endorsement is the same, 2 or 3 wheels.
Even though I had taken the STEP class, and had been told that I wouldn't have to take the skill test by our MVD, when I went to get my endorsement, they looked at me and said, "What's this?" So, off I went. Skill test was so easy I was amazed.

Kural,
The bottom line here is that a 2 wheel test will demonstrate how well you know the controls of a solo bike but you still won't know S*** about piloting a sidehack rig.
Just like with autos, sidecar training can save your A**.

My opinion,

Lonnie

Originally written by stevewoo on 10/20/2006 2:49 PM

What a load of crap! Licensing of sidecarists in Washington state pays for sidecar training available through the Evergreen Safety Council and others. (The S/TEP course) WE - sidecarists and motorcyclists - signed up for it. WE think it is a good idea. WE now have training and the ability for folks who would not otherwise be able to, to get a sidecar license and enjoy sidecars and the mobility they provide. What do you have?

Dave Wendell is someone dedicated to motorcycle and sidecar safety through education. To imply that he is somehow unworthy or not to be believed or unsavory is, or ought to be, beneath you.

Steve,
Your comments are in <>.

>>What a load of crap!<> Licensing of sidecarists in Washington state pays for sidecar training available through the Evergreen Safety Council and others. (The S/TEP course) .<>WE - sidecarists and motorcyclists - signed up for it. WE think it is a good idea. WE now have training and the ability for folks who would not otherwise be able to, to get a sidecar license and enjoy sidecars and the mobility they provide.<> What do you have?<>Dave Wendell is someone dedicated to motorcycle and sidecar safety through education. To imply that he is somehow unworthy or not to be believed or unsavory is, or ought to be, beneath you.<<

I am amazed that you would put words into my mouth here.

I am not against training at all. I also think the S/TEP class in it's present form is good.
I am only saying that I do not agree with a mandatory additional liscense for a person who rides a three wheel vehicle.
If someone was to move to Washington today. Could they take a state test for sidecar operation right away? I am asking as I do not know. This thing began in '04 I think.

Claude says: "With much discussion with Dave Wendall.It is dated somewhat now but was current at the time. I am not sure who Dave wendall is working with today he seems to change hats a lot.
Nuff said"

That comes accross to me as critical of Dave.