Vehicles: motorcycle license.

Existing law prohibits a person from operating a motorcycle on a highway unless that person holds a valid driver's license or endorsement for a motorcycle. Existing law requires an applicant for a license or endorsement to operate a motorcycle to submit to an examination including a demonstration of the applicant's ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in operating a motorcycle. Existing law establishes a motorcyclist safety program within the Department of the California Highway Patrol, administered by the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol. Existing law authorizes the commissioner to adopt standards, as specified, for a novice rider motorcycle training course and for a premier motorcyclist safety training program. Existing law authorizes the Department of Motor Vehicles to accept a certificate of satisfactory completion of the rider motorcycle training course in lieu of the driving test for a motorcycle driver's license. This bill would authorize the operator of a motorcyclist training program described above to issue a certificate of satisfactory completion to a person at least 21 years of age who has opted to complete only the skills testing portion of the training program and has successfully passed the skills test. The bill would require the motorcyclist training program operator to, in a manner prescribed by the Department of Motor Vehicles, note on the certificate that the person has completed only the skills testing portion of the program. The bill would authorize the department to accept a certificate issued pursuant to these provisions from an applicant who is at least 21 years of age in lieu of a driving test for a motorcycle driver's license if the applicant has met the other examination requirements for the license for which the applicant is applying.