band of color

Montana

Effective date of original law:
July 1, 1990

 Ultimate Program Responsibility
Montana State University—Northern
P.O. Box 7751
Havre, MT 59501
Phone: 800-662-6132

Day-to-Day Administration
Michele Calvert, Project Coordinator
Montana Motorcycle Rider Safety
Montana State University—Northern
P.O. Box 7751
Havre, MT 59501-7751
Phone: 406-265-4177
Fax: 406-265-3570
E-mail: motorcycle@msun.edu

Program Administration
Legislative Provisions

  • Source of funding: Motorcycle registration ($5) and motorcycle license endorsement (63.46% of $4 8-year renewal fee)
  • Stipulated use of funds: To support only motorcycle safety training courses, Instructor training and related training activities (course facility construction, repair, or purchase may be funded)

Relationship Among Various Programs

  • Licensing Bureau chief is a member of the Montana Motorcycle Safety Advisory Committee.
  • Licensing information is provided in Montana Motorcycle Rider Safety promotional materials, and motorcycle safety promotional materials are included in licensing manuals.
  • State program provides assistance and training to driver license examiners.

Collection of Rider Training and Licensing Data

  • Agency responsible for collecting rider training data:
    Montana Motorcycle Rider Safety
  • Agency responsible for collecting licensing data:
    Department of Justice
  • Data available in electronic format: Rider training data are available in electronic format
  • Link between crash, licensing, and rider education data: None

Rider Education
Training Delivery

  • Months of instruction: April through September
  • Number of instruction sites: 9
  • Types of providers: Universities, community colleges, high schools, military, airports, and mobile training sites

Operations and Participant Characteristics

  • Courses offered: 104
  • Students enrolled: 884
  • No-shows or registration
    refunds:     62
  • Time until course reaches capacity: 2–3 days
  • Average waiting period to take course: 2–8 weeks
  • Students on waiting list: 50 (est.)

Program Funding and Expenditures

  • Annual budget: $145,000
  • Source of Federal funds: None
  • Average cost to State to educate rider: $164.03
  • Course tuition charged to novice rider: $105
  • Course tuition charged to experienced rider: $40
  • Special fees in addition to course fees: None

Curriculum

  • Approved curricula: MRC:RSS,
    BRC, and ERC
  • Advisory committee: Five-member State advisory committee with members appointed and elected by the Governor to 5 year terms.
  • Curricula approved by:
    Board of Regents
  • Process to modify curricula: N/A
  • Data collected for modifications: N/A
  • Validation process for modifications: N/A
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Instructor Selection, Training, and Evaluation

  • State certification is not required for Instructors.
  • Board of Regents establishes Instructor standards based on the MSF’s or a similar organization.
    The Board also approves the Instructors.
  • A two-class mentorship is required.
  • Annual updates are required for Instructors. Instructors are monitored as needed by peers and State coordinators.

Profile of Instructors

  • Certified Instructors/RiderCoaches: 24
  • Chief Instructors/RiderCoach Trainers: 0
  • Instructor candidates in 2001: 5
  • Percentage of successful Instructor candidates: 60%
  • Instructor demographics: 100% male, 0% female
  • Reciprocity for Instructors trained in other States: N/A

Quality Control Procedures

  • Quality control measures are on site.
  • Montana Motorcycle Rider Safety is responsible for quality control.

Program Evaluation

  • N/A

Licensing Requirements
Permit

  • $0.50 fee
  • Successful completion of
    eye exam
  • Successful completion of knowledge exam
  • Valid for 6 months

License

  • $0.50 per year in addition to the regular license fee
  • Rider may be licensed at 15 upon successful completion of a rider education program. Rider must be 16 if course is not completed.
  • Motorcycle license must be renewed every 4 or 8 years.

Operator Licensing
Testing and Training Responsibilities

  • Testing agency: Motor Vehicle Division
  • Third-party testing: Yes
  • Agency responsible for training examiners: N/A

Knowledge and Skills Tests Used

  • Knowledge test used: MSF
  • Primary skills test used: Alternate MOST
  • Secondary skills test used: Local on-street

Incentives

  • Rider education waiver: Skills
  • Reciprocity for rider education completed in another State: None
  • Reciprocal license waivers: Yes

Operator and Vehicle Characteristics

  • Motorcycle operators licensed: 70,000
  • Registered motorcycles: 24,755
  • New motorcycle licenses/endorsements issued in 2001: N/A
  • Operators licensed through rider education in 2001: N/A
  • Operators licensed without rider education: N/A
  • Operators without license or proper endorsement: N/A

Motorcyclist Licensing System

  • Graduated licensing: None
  • Tiered licensing: None

Public Information and Education

  • Operator’s manual used: Motorcycle Operator’s Manual
  • Annual budget for public information and education: None
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