KS Required Equipment - Make an informed choice

[safiri]

I am not trying to start an argument. What is required by law may not be required by a LEO when you get pulled over. Then again, it might. You decide the risk vs. the reward.

Several have put forth that KS statute does / does not require _(fill in blank, but turn signals is a common one)_ on a motorcycle.

Well, here is what KS statutes say:
http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-sta ... Statute.do

Note that "motorcycle" is what we ride. A "motor-driven cycle" is a moped.
8-1439. "Motor-driven cycle" defined.
"Motor-driven cycle" means every motorcycle, including every motor scooter, with a motor which produces not to exceed five brake horsepower, and every bicycle with motor attached, except a motorized bicycle or an electric-assisted bicycle.
8-1438. "Motorcycle" defined.
"Motorcycle" means every motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three (3) wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding a tractor.

Reequired:
1. Multiple beam headlamp.
2. Turn signals (after 1972)
3. Tail / Brake light.
4. Rear, red reflector (can be within brake light)
5. Horn.
6. Mirror, left side (after 1975)
7. There may be more. Read the statutes for a complete list. 8-18xx deals with motorcycles, but several of those statutes refer back to performance requirements set forth in 8-17xx (automobile requirements).
8. KS Statute does not require the plate be horizontal. CO law does. Fed Courts have ruled that CO can ticket KS vehicles for improper display.

8-1801. Head lamps.
(a) Every motorcycle and every motor-driven cycle shall be equipped with at least (1) head lamp which shall comply with the requirements and limitations of this article. (b) Every head lamp upon every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle shall be located at a height of not more than fifty-four (54) inches nor less than twenty-four (24) inches to be measured as set forth in subsection (b) of K.S.A. 8-1704.

8-1802. Tail lamps.
(a) Every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle shall have at least one (1) tail lamp which shall be located at a height of not more than seventy-two (72) nor less than fifteen (15) inches. (b) Either a tail lamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate and render it clearly legible from a distance of fifty (50) feet to the rear. Any tail lamp or tail lamps, together with any separate lamp or lamps for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be so wired as to be lighted whenever the head lamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted.

8-1803. Reflectors.
Every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle shall carry on the rear, either as part of the tail lamp or separately, at least one (1) red reflector meeting the requirements of subsection (b) of K.S.A. 8-1707.

8-1804. Stop lamps and turn signals.
(a) Every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle shall be equipped with at least one (1) stop lamp meeting the requirements of subsection (a) of K.S.A. 8-1721. (b) Every motorcycle manufactured after January 1, 1973, shall be equipped with electric turn signals meeting the requirements of subsection (b) of K.S.A. 8-1721. Motor-driven cycles may, but need not, be equipped with electric turn signals.

8-1805. Multiple-beam road-lighting equipment on motorcycles.
Every motorcycle, other than a motor-driven cycle, shall be equipped with multiple-beam road-lighting equipment. Such equipment shall: (a) Reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least three hundred (300) feet ahead when the uppermost distribution of light is selected; and (b) Reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least one hundred fifty (150) feet ahead when the lowermost distribution of light is selected, and on a straight, level road under any condition of loading, none of the high intensity portion of the beam shall be directed to strike the eyes of an approaching driver.

8-1810. Other equipment; compliance with sections in article 18; applicability of other equipment laws.
(a) Every motorcycle and every motor-driven cycle shall comply with the requirements and limitations of K.S.A. 8-1738 on horns and warning devices, K.S.A. 8-1739 on noise prevention and mufflers, K.S.A. 8-1740 on mirrors and K.S.A. 8-1742 on tires. (b) Every motorcycle and every motor-driven cycle shall comply with the requirements and limitations contained in this article, and unless otherwise specifically made applicable, motorcycles and motor-driven cycles shall not be subject to the requirements and limitations imposed elsewhere in this act with respect to equipment on vehicles.

8-1738. Horns and warning devices.
(a) Every motor vehicle when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 200 feet, but no horn or other warning device shall emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or whistle. The driver of a motor vehicle when reasonably necessary to insure safe operation shall give audible warning with his horn but shall not otherwise use such horn when upon a highway. ...


8-1740. Mirrors.
(a) After January 1, 1975, every motor vehicle shall be equipped with a mirror mounted on the left side of the vehicle and so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway to the rear of the vehicle. (b) Every motor vehicle, except a motorcycle, shall be equipped with an additional mirror mounted either inside the vehicle approximately in the center or outside the vehicle on the right side and so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway to the rear of the vehicle. (c) All mirrors required by regulations of the United States department of transportation shall be maintained in good condition.


8-133. Display of license plate.
The license plate assigned to the vehicle shall be attached to the rear thereof and shall be so displayed during the current registration year or years. A Kansas registered vehicle shall have no registration plate for any year on the front of the vehicle, except that ... Every license plate shall at all times be securely fastened to the vehicle to which it is assigned so as to prevent the plate from swinging, and at a height not less than 12 inches from the ground, measuring from the bottom of such plate, in a place and position to be clearly visible, and shall be maintained free from foreign materials and in a condition to be clearly legible.

[Hayden]

Been pulled over 4 times now with the XRR. They claimed they wanted a better look at my tag. 2 times I was questioned about turnsignals. This statement...

Motor-driven cycles may, but need not, be equipped with electric turn signals.

got me out of a ticket and back on the road with a " have a good day " I also pushed the arrgument of What the heck is hand signals for????

The other 2 times I was just checked for insurance and DL class and was let go. I was not speeding and NOT being stupid in any way shape or form all 4 times. I was cruising down the Hwy mindn my own buisness. 2 times by Sheriff and 2 times by Troopers. BTW, the Troopers were asshats. The sheriffs were cool. Whats up with that???

Hayden

Hayden

[Savage]

I take it you haven't seen "Super Troopers" yet?

I got pulled over doing 50 in a 55 because the trooper didn't see safety chains on my trailer. He said I had to have tail lights on my trailer too. Not so if you can see the vehicles lights. I was ticked

[Harvey Mushman]

I agree w/Hayden. The Sherriff deputies have always been the nicest to deal with. Example; Last year I was headed south on 75 going to Chanute and was clocked going 79 in a 65 by a Sherriff going the other direction. As soon as I saw him coming at me I knew I was toast. When he passed he slammed on his brakes and did a U turn after me. By the time he got out of his car, I was already pulled over, seat belt on, license and reg' ready, and hands on the wheel in full view, not to mention I was real polite. He wrote me a ticket for 74 MPH and made a point to tell me since the ticket showed I was only 9 over, I could complete some paperwork and pay 2x the fine and not have to go to court or have the ticket appear on my driving record. He could have hung me out for the full 14 over, then I would not have had the option of keeping it off my record. I wonder if since I was polite and had my stuff in order he cut me a break. I know the Highway Patrol boys would never have done that. About 15 years ago I got pulled over by the Sherriff doing 105 mph on my FXR at 3AM in the morning, (still have a copy of the ticket). WOOOOOHOOOOO! Those were the days.

-Harvey
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