Title 32 — MOTOR VEHICLES

Terms used in this chapter mean: (1) "Department," the Department of Public Safety; (2) "Moped," a motor driven cycle equipped with two or three wheels. If a combustion engine is used, the maximum piston or rotor displacement must be fifty cubic centimeters regardless of the numb…

This chapter shall not apply to vehicles used for special occasions such as display, parade, exhibitions, and similar uses. Source: SL 1967, ch 215 , § 10. 32-20-11. Repealed by SL 1989, ch 255 , § 91.

32-20-12 Off-road vehicles--Operation on certain lands as misdemeanor--Registration--Title certificate. 32-20-12.1 Ordinances prohibiting operation of off-road vehicles in ditches--Exceptions--Regulatory signs. 32-20-13 All-terrain or off-road vehicles--License requirements--Publ…

No person may operate on a public street or highway an off - road vehicle except for crossing from one side of the road to the other. A person twelve years of age or older may operate an off - road vehicle in a highway ditch if the vehicle is operated as close as possible to the …

Notwithstanding the provisions of § 32-20-12 , the Transportation Commission or any board of county commissioners by ordinance may prohibit the operation of off-road vehicles in any highway ditch along any section of highway under its jurisdiction. However, neither the Transporta…

Any all-terrain vehicle with four or more wheels and with a combustion engine having a piston or rotor displacement of two hundred cubic centimeters or more or any off-road vehicle with two wheels and with a combustion engine having a piston or rotor displacement of one hundred t…

Any revenue derived from the fee imposed by § 32-5-10.1 and appropriated pursuant to § 32-20-15 shall be used to provide motorcycle safety courses and motorcycle safety education approved by the director of the Office of Highway Safety. The director shall promulgate rules pursuan…

Any revenue derived from the fee imposed by § 32-5-10.1 and any other revenue made available to the Department of Public Safety to be used for the purposes of providing motorcycle safety courses and motorcycle safety education shall be budgeted pursuant to chapter 4-7 and appropr…

A motorcycle may display a blue light of up to one - inch diameter as part of the motorcycle's rear brake light. Source: SL 2004, ch 215 , § 1.

Terms used in §§ 32-20-17 through 32-20-20 mean: (1) "Off-road vehicle activity," includes: (a) An off-road vehicle show, competition, performance, parade, hunt, recreational ride, or trail ride; (b) Off-road vehicle training or teaching activities, or both; (c) Riding, inspectin…

For the purposes of §§ 32-20-17 through 32-20-20, engaging in off-road vehicle activity means riding, providing, assisting in driving, or being a passenger on an off-road vehicle. It does not include being a spectator at an off-road vehicle activity unless the spectator is in an …

A participant assumes the risks inherent in engaging in off-road vehicle activity. A participant is responsible for: (1) Knowing the range of the participant's own ability to engage in off-road vehicle activity within the limits of the participant's ability considering the condit…

No person may operate a motorcycle, except a moped as defined in § 32-20-1 , a licensed all-terrain vehicle under § 32-20-13 , or any motor vehicle that has three wheels and is operated with a steering wheel and foot controls on the public streets or highways without a motor vehi…

Any off-road vehicle activity sponsor or off-road vehicle professional who engages in the business of renting off-road vehicles to another shall maintain the rental off-road vehicles in a safe condition. An off-road vehicle activity sponsor or off-road vehicle professional who of…

32-20-4 Protective helmet required for minor--Violation as misdemeanor. 32-20-4.1 Eye protective device or windscreen required--Violation as petty offense. 32-20-4.2 Protective devices not required of riders in enclosed cab. 32-20-5

No person under eighteen years of age may operate or ride upon a motorcycle on the public streets or highways of this state unless the person wears a protective helmet of a type meeting Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218 as in effect on January 1, 1984…

No person may operate a motorcycle unless he is wearing an eye protective device or unless the motorcycle is equipped with a windscreen of sufficient height and design so as to provide adequate eye protection to the operator when seated on the motorcycle in the normal operating p…

Section 32-20-4 , requiring helmets, and § 32-20-4.1 shall not apply to persons riding within an enclosed cab. Source: SL 1970, ch 176 , § 3. 32-20-5. Repealed by SL 2008, ch 160 , § 1. 32-20-6. Repealed by SL 1970, ch 176 , § 4.

32-20-6

32-20-6.1 Operator and passengers restricted to permanent and regular seats--Violation as misdemeanor. 32-20-6.2 Position of motorcyclist--Violation as misdemeanor. 32-20-6.3 Carrying package on motorcycle--Restrictions--Violation as misdemeanor. 32-20-6.4 Rider interfering with …

A person operating a motorcycle shall ride only upon the permanent and regular seat attached thereto, and such operator may not carry any other person nor may any other person ride on a motorcycle unless such motorcycle is designed to carry more than one person, in which event a …

No person may ride upon a motorcycle unless sitting astride the motorcycle seat and facing forward. No person may operate a motorcycle unless he has at least one hand on the handlebars at all times while the motorcycle is in motion. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdem…

No person may operate a motorcycle while carrying any package, bundle, or other article which prevents him from keeping both hands on the handlebars. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor. Source: SL 1970, ch 176 , § 1, § 3; SL 1989, ch 255 , § 96.

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. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor. Source: SL 1970, ch 176 , § 1, § 4; SL 1989, ch 255 …

No person riding upon a motorcycle may attach himself or the motorcycle to any other vehicle on a roadway. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor. Source: SL 1970, ch 176 , § 1, § 10; SL 1989, ch 255 , § 98.

Source: SL 1972, ch 178 ; SL 1989, ch 255 , § 99; SL 1996, ch 203 ; SL 1999, ch 160 , § 1; SL 2003, ch 224 , § 2; SL 2019, ch 134 , § 2; SL 2020, ch 121 , § 1.

No dealer nor person renting or loaning motorcycles may loan or rent a motorcycle unless a valid license or permit is shown such dealer by the renter or loanee and possesses the safety equipment required of the operator of such motorcycle. A violation of this section is a petty o…

No renter or loanee as provided in § 32-20-7 may permit any other person to operate such motorcycle. A violation of this section is a petty offense. Source: SL 1967, ch 215 , § 8; SL 1989, ch 255 , § 108.

It is a petty offense to operate a motorcycle in any municipal, county, or state park or recreation area except upon the normally traveled roads or roadways, or in specifically designated areas. Source: SL 1967, ch 215 , § 9; SL 1989, ch 255 , § 109.

All motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane and no motor vehicle may be driven in such manner as to deprive any motorcycle of the full use of a lane. This section does not apply to motorcycles operated two abreast in a single lane. A violation of this section is a Class 2 …

The operator of a motorcycle may not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken. This section does not apply to motorcycles being operated two abreast in the same lane, or a motorcycle and a bicycle being operated two abreast in the same lane. A vi…

No person may operate a motorcycle between adjacent lanes of traffic, or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor. Source: SL 1970, ch 176 , § 1, § 7; SL 1989, ch 255 , § 102.

Sections 32-20-9.2 and 32-20-9.3 shall not apply to police officers in the performance of their official duties. Source: SL 1970, ch 176 , § 1, § 9.

No person may operate a motorcycle more than two abreast in a single lane. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor. Source: SL 1970, ch 176 , § 1, § 8; SL 1989, ch 255 , § 103.