2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 42 - VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC (§§ 42-1-101 — 42-21-106) › DRIVERS LICENSES (§§ 42-2-101 — 42-2-604) › Article 2 - DRIVERS' LICENSES (§§ 42-2-101 — 42-2-604) › Part 1 - DRIVERS' LICENSES (§§ 42-2-101 — 42-2-144) › Section 42-2-103 - Motorcycles - autocycles - low-power scooters - driver's license required

(1)
(a)
The department shall establish a motorcycle endorsement program for driver's licenses, minor driver's licenses, and instruction permits issued pursuant to this article.
(b)
The department shall require an applicant for a general motorcycle endorsement to demonstrate the applicant's ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable care and control in the operation of a motorcycle. The department shall also require an applicant for a limited three-wheel motorcycle endorsement to demonstrate the applicant's ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable care and control in the operation of a three-wheel motorcycle.
(c)
Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this subsection (1), a person shall not drive a two-wheel motorcycle on a roadway without a general motorcycle endorsement, but a person who possesses a general motorcycle endorsement may drive any motorcycle on the roadway.
(d)
Except as provided in subsection (1)(e) of this section, a person with only a limited three-wheel motorcycle endorsement may drive a three-wheel motorcycle but shall not drive a two-wheel motorcycle on a roadway.
(e)
A driver of an autocycle shall possess a valid driver's license or minor driver's license. The driver of an autocycle need not obtain a two- or three-wheel motorcycle endorsement.
(2)
(a)
An operator of a low-power scooter shall possess a valid driver's license or minor driver's license.
(b)
No low-power scooter shall be operated on any interstate system as described in section
43-2-101 (2)
, C.R.S., except where a bicycle may be operated on such interstate system, on any limited-access road of the state highway system as described in section
43-2-101 (1)
, C.R.S., or on any sidewalk, unless such operation is specifically designated. Low-power scooters may be operated upon roadways, except as provided in this section, and in bicycle lanes included within such roadways.
(2.5)
Repealed.
(3)
A person who operates a motorcycle in violation of subsection (1) of this section commits the offense of driving a motor vehicle without the correct class of license in violation of section
42-2-101 (4)
and shall be punished as provided in section
42-2-101 (10)
.
Amended by 2022 Ch. 361, § 2, eff. 1/1/2023.
Amended by 2017 Ch. 72, § 2, eff. 3/23/2017.
L. 94: Entire title amended with relocations, p. 2116, § 1, effective 1/1/1995. L. 2000: Entire section amended, p. 1349, § 15, effective 7/1/2001. L. 2008: Entire section amended, p. 79, § 1, effective July 1. L. 2009: (2) amended, (HB 09 -1026), ch. 281, p. 1262, § 23, effective October 1. L. 2015: (1)(c) and (1)(d) amended and (1)(e) added, (HB 15-1345), ch. 330, p. 1346, § 1, effective August 5. L. 2017: (1)(b), (1)(d), and IP(1)(e) amended and (2.5) added, (HB 17-1044), ch. 72, p. 229, § 2, effective March 23.
This section is similar to former § 42-2-102.5 as it existed prior to 1994, and the former § 42-2-103 was relocated to §
42-2-104
.
2022 Ch. 361, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3).