(1) The following persons need not obtain a Colorado driver's license:
(a) Any person who operates a federally owned military motor vehicle while serving in the armed forces of the United States;
(b) Any person who temporarily drives or operates any road machine, farm tractor, or other implement of husbandry on a highway;
(c) Any nonresident who is at least sixteen years of age and who has in his or her immediate possession a valid driver's license issued to such nonresident by his or her state or country of residence. A nonresident who is at least sixteen years of age and whose state or country of residence does not require the licensing of drivers may operate a motor vehicle as a driver for not more than ninety days in any calendar year, if said nonresident is the owner of the vehicle driven and if the motor vehicle so operated is duly registered in such nonresident's state or country of residence and such nonresident has in his or her immediate possession a registration card evidencing such ownership and registration in his or her own state or country.
(d) A nonresident on active duty in the armed forces of the United States if that person has in his or her possession a valid driver's license issued by such nonresident's state of domicile or, if returning from duty outside the United States, has a valid driver's license in his or her possession issued by the armed forces of the United States in foreign countries, but such armed forces license shall be valid only for a period of forty-five days after the licensee has returned to the United States;
(e) The spouse of a member of the armed forces of the United States who is accompanying such member on military or naval assignment to this state, who has a valid driver's license issued by another state, and whose right to drive has not been suspended or revoked in this state;
(f) Any nonresident who is temporarily residing in Colorado for the principal purpose of furthering such nonresident's education, is at least sixteen years of age, has a valid driver's license from his or her state of residence, and is considered a nonresident for tuition purposes by the educational institution at which such nonresident is furthering his or her education.
(2) Any person who has in his or her possession a valid driver's license issued by such person's previous state of residence shall be exempt, for thirty days after becoming a resident of the state of Colorado, from obtaining a license, as provided in section 42-2-101.
Source: L. 94: Entire title amended with relocations, p. 2115, � 1, effective January 1, 1995.
42-2-103. Motorcycles - autocycles - low-power scooters - driver's license required. (1) (a) The department shall establish a motorcycle endorsement program for driver's licenses, minor driver's licenses, and instruction permits issued pursuant to this article.
(b) The department shall require an applicant for a general motorcycle endorsement to demonstrate the applicant's ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable care and control in the operation of a motorcycle. The department shall also require an applicant for a limited three-wheel motorcycle endorsement to demonstrate the applicant's ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable care and control in the operation of a three-wheel motorcycle.
(c) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this subsection (1), a person shall not drive a two-wheel motorcycle on a roadway without a general motorcycle endorsement, but a person who possesses a general motorcycle endorsement may drive any motorcycle on the roadway.
(d) Except as provided in subsection (1)(e) of this section, a person with only a limited three-wheel motorcycle endorsement may drive a three-wheel motorcycle but shall not drive a two-wheel motorcycle on a roadway.
(e) A driver of an autocycle shall possess a valid driver's license or minor driver's license. The driver of an autocycle need not obtain a two- or three-wheel motorcycle endorsement.
(2) (a) An operator of a low-power scooter shall possess a valid driver's license or minor driver's license.
(b) No low-power scooter shall be operated on any interstate system as described in section 43-2-101 (2), C.R.S., except where a bicycle may be operated on such interstate system, on any limited-access road of the state highway system as described in section 43-2-101 (1), C.R.S., or on any sidewalk, unless such operation is specifically designated. Low-power scooters may be operated upon roadways, except as provided in this section, and in bicycle lanes included within such roadways.
(2.5) Repealed.
(3) A person who operates a motorcycle in violation of subsection (1) of this section commits the offense of driving a motor vehicle without the correct class of license in violation of section 42-2-101 (4) and shall be punished as provided in section 42-2-101 (10).
Source: L. 94: Entire title amended with relocations, p. 2116, � 1, effective January 1, 1995. L. 2000: Entire section amended, p. 1349, � 15, effective July 1, 2001. L. 2008: Entire section amended, p. 79, � 1, effective July 1. L. 2009: (2) amended, (HB 09-1026), ch. 281, p. 1262, � 23, effective October 1. L. 2015: (1)(c) and (1)(d) amended and (1)(e) added, (HB 15-1345), ch. 330, p. 1346, � 1, effective August 5. L. 2017: (1)(b), (1)(d), and IP(1)(e) amended and (2.5) added, (HB 17-1044), ch. 72, p. 229, � 2, effective March 23. L. 2022: (1)(b), (1)(d), and (1)(e) amended and (2.5) repealed, (HB 22-1043), ch. 361, p. 2580, � 2, effective January 1, 2023.
Editor's note: This section is similar to former � 42-2-102.5 as it existed prior to 1994, and the former � 42-2-103 was relocated to � 42-2-104.