Maintaining motorcycle master in Montana

  • Published
  • By Capt. Trenton White
  • 341st Missile Wing Legal Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  With warmer weather, more and more people are trading in their four-wheeled escorts for a two-wheeled version. A motorcycle is a fun alternative to taking a drive in a sedan or station wagon. However, before you jump on your bike and tour the countryside, there are a few things to keep in mind.

First, you must be legal. You must meet the requirements of both the state in which you are driving and the Air Force. Montana requires a motorcycle endorsement on a Montana driver's license or a motorcycle license from another state to operate a motorcycle on Montana's roads. If you cannot obtain a motorcycle license from your state of residence, then you will need to surrender your current license and get a Montana driver's license with a motorcycle endorsement.

To get a Montana motorcycle endorsement you must be 15 years old and taken a driver education course, or 16 years old without the course. The endorsement costs 50 cents per year. A written test and a riding skill test must be successfully completed to receive the endorsement. The riding skill test may be waived if you have taken a motorcycle rider safety course, such as the one offered on base. A motorcycle-only license is available by passing the written driving test, written motorcycle test, riding skill test and paying a fee.

When applying for a Montana driver's license, you may be asked to register to vote. However, you should be aware that obtaining a Montana driver's license and/or registering to vote in Montana may affect your state of residence for tax purposes. For example, service members who register to vote in Montana will lose the military exclusion benefit and have to pay the full registration fee for each vehicle they register in Montana. You are not required to register to vote to obtain a Montana license, but you do have to have a Montana address.

The Air Force also has its own requirements. In addition to following local state laws, Air Force Instruction 91-207 requires "all military personnel at any time and all civilian personnel on an [Air Force] installation or off an [Air Force] installation in a duty status who operate a motorcycle on a roadway are required to attend and complete an approved motorcycle rider education course."

Once you complete this training, you can take your certificate to the Department of Motor Vehicles and apply for a motorcycle endorsement. It also requires refresher training for motorcycle riders every three years. It should be noted that if you fall under Air Force Global Strike Command, as Malmstrom does, you are required to complete an intermediate approved motorcycle course (such as the Experienced Rider Course, or ERC; Advanced Riders Course, or ARC; or Military Sportbike Rider Course, or MSRC) within 120 days after completion of initial training (AFI 91-207, AFGSC Supp. I, para. 4.5.2).
The Air Force also requires that within 30 days of applying for your endorsement or taking a rider's education course, you consult your immediate commander and have a brief face-to-face interview with him or her to let them know you intend on riding a motorcycle. This is a simple matter that can be scheduled through your unit.

Second, you must be safe. While riders in Montana only have to wear a helmet if they are under 18, the Air Force requires all riders and passengers (regardless of age or experience) to wear adequate personal protective equipment, or PPE. The Air Force defines adequate PPE as head protection, eye protection, protective clothing, and foot protection at a minimum. The exact specifications for each item can be found in AFI 91-207, para. 3.4.2.3.

Finally, you need to be covered. Under Montana State Code Annotated 61-6-301 and 61-6-103, to operate a motor vehicle in the state of Montana, you must have liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $25,000/$50,000/$10,000. While Montana exempts motorcycles from that requirement for state roads and highways, an installation commander can require all drivers to have liability insurance if they wish to drive on base even if state law doesn't require it (AFI 31-204, para. 3.2). A simple phone call to your insurance agent can take care of this requirement.
Driving a motorcycle can be fun and enjoyable for many years. All you need to do is remember to be legal, safe and covered; this is done by making sure to take a motorcycle safety course, obtain the required driver's license endorsement, wear all of your PPE, inform your command of your intent and have adequate insurance coverage.

For more information about on-base motorcycle education courses, PPE, or other motorcycle-related topics, contact Kelly Nathe at 731-6726 or Tech. Sgt. Lincoln Seals at 731-3746. Exams for the motorcycle endorsement are available by appointment at any driver exam station, but the riding skill test will not be administered when road conditions are wet. The Great Falls Driver Exam Station is located at 916 13th Avenue South and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To make an appointment, call 454-1251. For any other questions regarding laws or state licensing requirements, please contact the Base Legal Office at 731-2878.