New York State Law
Vehicle and Traffic Law
Consolidated Laws of New York's VTL code
Article 34A - NY Vehicle and Traffic Law
OPERATION OF MOTORCYCLES
| Section | Description |
|---|---|
| 1250 | Traffic laws apply to persons operating motorcycles. |
| 1251 | Riding on motorcycles. |
| 1252 | Operating motorcycles on roadways laned for traffic. |
| 1253 | Clinging to other vehicles. |
S 1250. Traffic laws apply to persons operating motorcycles. Every person operating a motorcycle shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle under this title, except as to special regulations in this article and except as to those provisions of this title which by their nature can have no application. S 1251. Riding on motorcycles. (a) A person operating a motorcycle shall ride only upon the permanent and regular seat attached thereto, and such operator shall not carry any other person nor shall any other person ride on a motorcycle unless such motorcycle is designed to carry more than one person, in which event a passenger may ride upon the permanent and regular seat if designed for two persons, or upon another seat firmly attached to the motorcycle at the rear or side of the operator. (b) A person shall ride upon a motorcycle only while sitting astride the seat, facing forward, with one leg on each side of the motorcycle, unless said person is seated in a sidecar affixed to said motorcycle. (c) No person shall operate a motorcycle while carrying any package, bundle or other article which prevents him from keeping both hands on the handlebars. (d) No operator shall carry any person, nor shall any person ride, in a position that will interfere with the operation or control of the motorcycle or the view of the operator. S 1252. Operating motorcycles on roadways laned for traffic. (a) All motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane and no motor vehicle or motorcycle shall be driven in such a manner as to deprive any motorcycle of the full use of a lane. However, this subsection shall not be construed to prevent motorcycles from being operated two abreast in a single lane. (b) The operator of a motorcycle shall not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken. (c) No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles. (d) Motorcycles shall not be operated more than two abreast in a single lane. (e) Subsections (b) and (c) shall not apply to police officers in the performance of their official duties. S 1253. Clinging to other vehicles. No person riding upon a motorcycle shall attach himself or the motorcycle to any other vehicle or streetcar on a roadway. Top of Page
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