(a)(1)  Upon applying for a first license to drive a two-wheeled (2) motorcycle and after successfully completing a motorcycle driver education program pursuant to § 31-10.1-1.1(a)(1) and after satisfying the requirements of § 31-10.1-3(a), the administrator of the division of motor vehicles may issue a motorcycle learner’s permit to take instruction in the operation of a two-wheeled (2) motorcycle which entitles the holder to operate or drive a two-wheeled (2) motorcycle on the public highway, other than a limited access highway, as a learner, under the general supervision, and whether or not under the immediate control, of a licensed motorcycle operator, at least eighteen (18) years of age.

(2)  Upon applying for a first license to drive a three-wheeled (3) motorcycle and after successfully completing a motorcycle driver education program pursuant to § 31-10.1-1.1(a)(2) and after satisfying the requirements of § 31-10.1-3(b), the administrator of the division of motor vehicles may issue a motorcycle learner’s permit to take instruction in the operation of a three-wheeled (3) motorcycle which entitles the holder to operate or drive a three-wheeled (3) motorcycle on the public highway, other than a limited access highway, as a learner, under the general supervision, and whether or not under the immediate control, of a licensed motorcycle operator, at least eighteen (18) years of age.

(3)  A person who has been issued a learner’s permit may not carry passengers other than the supervising driver on the motorcycle until the person has been licensed to operate a motorcycle.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 31-10.1-2

  • Motor vehicle: means any vehicle driven or drawn by mechanical power for use on the public streets, roads, and highways;

    (2)  "Odometer" means an instrument for measuring and recording the actual distance a motor vehicle travels while in operation;

    (3)  "Person" means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or business trust including, but not limited to, private individuals and motor vehicle dealers, both wholesale and retail, whether the private individual or dealer is a dealer in the ordinary course of business or not;

    (4)  "Repair and replacement" means to restore to a sound working condition by replacing the instrument or any part thereof or by correcting what is inoperative;

    (5)  "Transfer" means to acquire ownership by purchase, gift, bequest, or any other means. See Rhode Island General Laws 31-23.2-2

  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6

(b)  The following persons are eligible for a motorcycle learner’s permit:

(1)  A person who is at least sixteen (16) years old but less than eighteen (18) years old and has a limited provisional license or a full operator’s license issued by the division of motor vehicles.

(2)  A person who is at least eighteen (18) years old and has a license issued by the division of motor vehicles.

(c)  The holder of a motorcycle learner’s permit who has a limited provisional license may drive the motorcycle only at times when the license holder could drive a motor vehicle without supervision pursuant to § 31-10-14.

(d)  A motorcycle learner’s permit expires eighteen (18) months after it is issued.

History of Section.
P.L. 1967, ch. 27, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 184, § 2; P.L. 1998, ch. 371, § 3; P.L. 1998, ch. 386, § 3; P.L. 2021, ch. 412, § 1, effective March 1, 2022; P.L. 2021, ch. 413, § 1, effective March 1, 2022.