(a) No person shall operate a motorcycle, motorbike or other 2-wheeled or 3-wheeled motor-driven vehicle, as defined in § 101(37) of this title, upon a highway of this State without having been properly licensed and having passed, to the satisfaction of the Department, an examination testing the person's ability to operate such vehicle safely. The Department shall place a motorcycle endorsement on the driver license authorizing the operation of such vehicle. A person who passes an examination administered by the Department on a 3-wheeled motorcycle shall have a restriction placed on his or her driver license, in addition to the motorcycle endorsement, limiting him or her to the operation of 3-wheeled motorcycles. A temporary motorcycle instruction permit can be issued to a person age 18 or older after passing a written motorcycle examination. This permit expires in 6 months. If for any reason whatsoever the applicant fails to pass the required road skills examination during the 6-month period granted by the permit, the permit shall be void, and the fee paid therefor shall be forfeited unless the applicant requests an extension thereof and pays the sum of $5.00. Upon payment of said sum the Division shall immediately issue 1 extension only of the permit for an additional 6 months. If the applicant fails to pass the required examination within the additional 6-month period, the permit shall become void. The following provisions shall apply to a person while operating a motorcycle with a temporary instruction permit for the operation of a motorcycle:
(1) No passengers shall be allowed on the motorcycle;
(2) Operating a motorcycle between sunset and sunrise is prohibited;
(3) A safety helmet and eye protection as approved by the Office of Highway Safety must be worn; and,
(4) Operation is not permitted on the federal interstate highway system.
(b) The initial and subsequent renewal fee for an authorization or endorsement under this section shall be $8.00 when the authorization or endorsement holder also holds a commercial motor vehicle driver license endorsed for the transport of hazardous materials. Otherwise, the fee for an initial authorization or endorsement under this section and each renewal shall be $12.
(c) Of each of the initial fees for authorization or endorsement collected pursuant to subsection (b) of this section the sum of $5.00 is appropriated to the Department of Transportation and shall be placed in a special account to be used only for expenses incurred in the administration of the motorcycle rider education program. For each fee collected for subsequent renewals pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the total of such renewal fee shall also be appropriated to the Department of Transportation to be placed in said special account.
(d) The authorization or endorsement specified in subsection (a) of this section shall not be issued by the Division to any person under the age of 18 years unless the application therefor is signed both by the applicant and by the parent, guardian or court-ordered custodian of the applicant with whom the applicant resides in this State.
(1) Nevertheless, if the applicant has no parent, guardian or court-ordered custodian residing in the State to act as that applicant's sponsor, another responsible adult person who resides with the applicant in this State who is acceptable to the Secretary of Transportation may sign the application.
(2) The following sponsors are listed in order of priority:
a. Father or mother of the minor, if both parents are living together within this State and the minor resides with both parents;
b. Father of the minor, if the father is living within this State, and the minor resides with the father only; mother of the minor, if the mother is living within this State, and the minor resides with the mother only; or the father or mother, if the father or mother live within this State, and the minor resides with neither parent, and the minor has no legal guardian within this State;
c. Guardian or court-ordered custodian of the minor, duly appointed as such, under the laws of this State; or
d. Any suitable person acceptable to the Secretary of Transportation.
(3) The Department shall not require as a prerequisite to the issuance of a license to a minor under this section, that the father, mother, guardian or court ordered custodian who signs the minor's driver license application be present at the time the application is made by the minor, or sign the application at the offices of the Division of Motor Vehicles. The signing of the application and acknowledgment thereof by the natural parent, guardian, or court ordered custodian before a notary public or other person authorized to administer oaths shall be deemed sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this section. Sponsors designated in paragraph (d)(2)d. of this section shall sign the minor's license application in the presence of a Division representative.
(4) The sponsor who signs the motorcycle endorsement application on behalf of a minor can withdraw their sponsorship at any time until the minor reaches 18 years of age, thereby canceling the minor's authority to drive a motorcycle. If the court terminates the custody order and the minor subsequently resides with a parent in this State, then the parent may cancel the driving privileges of the minor under this section. Once canceled, the applicant can reapply for a motorcycle endorsement when they meet the provisions of this section and pay the endorsement fee.
(5) It shall be unlawful for any person to sign the application of a minor under this section when such application misstates the age of the minor or misrepresents themselves or their relationship to the minor. Any person who violates this provision shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor. Both the minor applicant and the sponsor's driver's license will be suspended for 2 months under § 2733(a)(5) of this title.
(e) The authorization or endorsement specified in subsection (a) of this section shall not be issued by the Department to any person under the age of 18 years unless such person:
(1) Complies with subsection (d) of this section; and
(2) Completes a motorcycle rider education program, such program having been approved by the State Department of Transportation pursuant to this chapter.