Motorcycles Defined - Vermont Castings MOTORCYCLE Manual

MOTORCYCLES DEFINED

23 V.S.A. §4(18) defines what a motorcycle is. The operator of
any vehicle that is considered a motorcycle must have a
motorcycle endorsement on their driver's license.
Motorcycles: "Motorcycle" shall mean any motor driven vehicle
having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to
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travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground,
but excluding motor-driven cycles, golf carts, track driven
vehicles, tractors, electric personal assistive mobility devices, and
vehicles on which the operator and passengers ride within an
enclosed cab, except that a vehicle which is fully enclosed, has
three wheels in contact with the ground, weighs less than 1,500
pounds, has the capacity to maintain posted highway speed limits,
and which uses electricity as its primary motive power shall be
registered as a motorcycle but the operator of such vehicle shall
not be required to have a motorcycle endorsement nor to comply
with the provisions of section 1256 of this title (motorcycles-
headgear) in the operation of such a vehicle.
Motor-driven cycles (Includes vehicles previously defined as
Mopeds): "Motor-driven cycle" means any vehicle equipped with
two or three wheels, a power source providing up to a maximum of
two brake horsepower and having a maximum piston or rotor
displacement of 50 cubic centimeters if a combustion engine is
used, which will propel the vehicle, unassisted, at a speed not to
exceed 30 miles per hour on a level road surface, and which is
equipped with a power drive system that functions directly or
automatically only, not requiring clutching or shifting by the
operator after the drive system is engaged. As motor vehicles,
motor-driven cycles shall be subject to the purchase and use tax
imposed under chapter 219 of Title 32 rather than to a general sales
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3-Wheeled Motorcycles: operators of 3-wheeled motorcycles are required to take the motorcycle
learner's permit examination and the motorcycle skills test. After passing the required exams,
operators will receive a motorcycle endorsement (M) with a restriction limiting them to operation of
3-wheeled motorcycles only.
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