This past weekend the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger was out riding his motorcycle near his home in Brentwood, California. Accompaying Arnold was his twelve-year old son who was riding in the side car. The motorcycle is known as a three wheeler with an operator needing a Motorcycle license to drive.
A car pulled out of a driveway crashing into the motorcycle. The Governor required fifteen stitches on his upper lip with his son receiving minor cuts and scrapes. LA Times story
It turns out that the Governor has never had a motorcycle license. His response to the media inquiries is that he never thought about it. It was decided a few days later by the Los Angeles District Attorney's office that no citation would be given. The reasoning behind this decision was that in order to issue a ticket the citing officer has to observe the motorcycle being driven. Since the accident occurred prior to their arrival this could not be verified. All news reports do state that it is illegal not to have a motorcycle license, but making it seem like a minor technicality.
The Governor has his own security detail with him, reportedly they are CHP officers and were at the scene.
After seeing the news reports on the accident and then lack of citation to the Governor, I was curious to know whether a consumer needs to have a motorcycle license in order to obtain insurance for a motorcycle.
It is unclear whether this is needed, but I did find that Allstate offers several discounts to the motorcycle rider. There is even a Motorcycle Safety Foundation Rider Course. If the motorcycle rider is a member of any of the Motorcycle Associations they will qualify for a discount.
During my searches I found a site that has a beginner's guide to motorcycling. This is a free ebook that outlines the steps to get your license and insurance coverage.
I highly suggest that the Governor of California make time out of his busy schedule to get this done. It is best to set an example for all those teenagers who are struggling to get their learner's permit and taking safety courses. www.totalmotorcycle.com is the site for comprehensive information on the world of motorcycling.
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