When were turn signals/mirrors required?

[AK82kz440]

Any one know how to research as to when turn signals and mirrors became required for a motorcycle to be operated on the streets of Alaska?
I'm running into difficulties with the DMV trying to get a title for the project bike and get it registered when I get it finished up. The project bike is a 1968 Bushwhacker, a 175cc single cylinder enduro. I purchased it from a guy who picked it up at a storage facility auction. The DMV is arguing that the bike needs to be running and street legal before they will title it, on top of having a surety bond for two and 1/2 X the estimated value of the bike. I got a estimate on the bike for $150 and purchased a surety bond but the DMV won't give me a title until it is street worthy. I got the bike cheap because the bike was vandalized, the headlight, tail light and speedo were busted up. To get it road legal and find out that I won't be able to title or register is going to be a kick in the shorts.

[A2rider]

Wow. I really don't know. Do you have any kind of state inspection?

There was a post in the new riders section about what a bike needs for MO.You might want to PM the respondant and see if he knows how to get the info for other states.

[A2rider]

http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/fo...uirements.html

[Summerheat]

Did a resto on a 1950 Indian Chief in Indiana... BMV said bike had to be street legal and I did not have to add anything that did not exist in 1950. So no turn signals...

Now I did get stopped 4 times and had to explain the legality of my ride, but the cops would check out the ride and send me on my way

[AK82kz440]

Well what I'm trying to find out is when the turn signals became a requirement in my state. They were an option in 68 but were not standard equipment. Like the seat belt for cages before 64, they were an option and because of that the seatbelt laws do not apply.

[Summerheat]

Indiana had no public documentation. It took a call to my BMV and through a few people to get the answer and had them fax me a copy from what she made her decision from.

[StarGate]

Any state could have different laws on the subject but like you pointed out, most things like that are grandfathered in if the vehicle was manufactured before federal law required them as mandatory equipment.

[AK82kz440]

But where can I find out when things were required?

[A2rider]

Have you contacted the DMV in your area?

[Summerheat]

you need to restore back to factory stock. Not "Optioned Out" factory stock.

But do contact your BMV or DMV to have something in your wallet when you get stopped because that hand signal will get a cops attention every time.

[StarGate]

Found this for Canada laws.
"Each turn signal lamp on a motorcycle manufactured on and
after January 1, 1973, shall have an effective projected luminous area
of not less than 3\1/2\ square inches."

Figured the US would have enacted something earlier than Canada.
Then I found this under US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Standard No. 108 - Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment - Passenger Cars, Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles, Trucks, Buses, Trailers, (except pole trailers and trailer converter dollies), and Motorcycles (Effective 1-1-68 for vehicles 2,032 mrn (80 or more inches) in width and Effective 1-1-69 for all other vehicles)
This standard specifies requirements for original and replacement lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment. Its purpose is to reduce traffic crashes and deaths and injuries resulting from traffic crashes, by providing adequate illumination of the roadway, and by enhancing the conspicuity of motor vehicles on the public roads so that their presence is perceived and their signals understood, both in daylight and in darkness or other conditions of reduced visibility

And this
Standard No. 123 - Motorcycle Controls and Displays - Motorcycles equipped with handlebars, except for motorcycles that are designed and sold exclusively for use by law enforcement agencies
(Effective 9-1-74)
This standard specifies requirements for the location, operation, identification and illumination of motorcycle controls and displays, and for stands and footrests. Its purpose is to minimize crashes caused by operator error in responding to the motoring environment, by standardizing certain motorcycle controls and displays.

But still haven't found exactly what I was looking for. Based on some of that info I would guess federal law required them sometime around 1970 or a little earlier.

[A2rider]

Originally Posted by StarGate

Found this for Canada laws.
"Each turn signal lamp on a motorcycle manufactured on and
after January 1, 1973, shall have an effective projected luminous area
of not less than 3\1/2\ square inches."

Figured the US would have enacted something earlier than Canada.
Then I found this under US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Standard No. 108 - Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment - Passenger Cars, Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles, Trucks, Buses, Trailers, (except pole trailers and trailer converter dollies), and Motorcycles (Effective 1-1-68 for vehicles 2,032 mrn (80 or more inches) in width and Effective 1-1-69 for all other vehicles)
This standard specifies requirements for original and replacement lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment. Its purpose is to reduce traffic crashes and deaths and injuries resulting from traffic crashes, by providing adequate illumination of the roadway, and by enhancing the conspicuity of motor vehicles on the public roads so that their presence is perceived and their signals understood, both in daylight and in darkness or other conditions of reduced visibility

And this
Standard No. 123 - Motorcycle Controls and Displays - Motorcycles equipped with handlebars, except for motorcycles that are designed and sold exclusively for use by law enforcement agencies
(Effective 9-1-74)
This standard specifies requirements for the location, operation, identification and illumination of motorcycle controls and displays, and for stands and footrests. Its purpose is to minimize crashes caused by operator error in responding to the motoring environment, by standardizing certain motorcycle controls and displays.

But still haven't found exactly what I was looking for. Based on some of that info I would guess federal law required them sometime around 1970 or a little earlier.

You should think about finding a job, Mike. You're getting as bad as me. I spend an hour last night trying to find what he needed to just Alaska.

[StarGate]

Originally Posted by A2rider

You should think about finding a job, Mike. You're getting as bad as me. I spend an hour last night trying to find what he needed to just Alaska.

I've got one, it's just not keeping me very busy or paying very well atm. But it only took about 10 min worth of searching for that. And I sorta wanted to know myself.

[dassa]

Alaska state motorcycle laws

Splatt's Motorcycle Laws in 50 States

According to these websites, They're not required at all.

[AK82kz440]

Well I had contacted the DMV in Alaska they were the ones who told me that inorder to get a "Title" (not registration) for my project bike I would need to have it road worthy. I questioned if that meant I needed to have blinkers and mirrors on it. She (manager) replied, "Yes, it must be road legal including blinkers and mirrors before you can get a title for the bike." I said even if they were not in 1968 for a motorcycle? She replied with, "They are required in 2008 and the motorcycle must be up to 2008 requirements before you can get a title for it. I also asked her if I would be able to get a title on a snomachine or a dirt bike because they are not to be operated on a road so therefore shouldn't be able to be titled. I know she is full of it because I then spent several hours going through the state statues and on this site DOC Frame Page I found the following:

13 AAC 04.330. Stop and turn lights

(a) A motorcycle or motor-driven cycle must be equipped with at least one stop light meeting the requirements of 13 AAC 04.035(c) .

(b) Except for a motorcycle or a motor-driven cycle manufactured or assembled before January 1, 1980, a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle must be equipped with turn signals meeting the requirements of 13 AAC 04.037(b) .
History: Eff. 6/28/79, Register 70; am 10/2/92, Register 123
Authority: AS 28.05.011
_________________________________________________

13 AAC 04.220. Mirrors

(a) A motor vehicle must be equipped with a mirror mounted on the left side of the vehicle; every motor vehicle except a motor-driven cycle, bicycle, or off-highway vehicle, must be equipped with a mirror mounted either inside the vehicle approximately in the center, or outside the vehicle on the right side.

(b) The following motor vehicles must be equipped with mirrors on both the left and right sides of the vehicle:

(1) a bus or school bus;

(2) a motor vehicle constructed, loaded or designed to be loaded in a manner which obstructs the driver's view through the rear window; or

(3) a motor vehicle towing a vehicle when the towed vehicle or its load obstructs the driver's view through the rear window.

(c) All mirrors required by this section must be maintained in good condition and located to reflect to the driver a view to the rear of the vehicle.

History: In effect before 7/28/59; am 12/15/61, Register 3; am 8/10/66, Register 22; am 12/31/69, Register 31; am 6/28/79, Register 70
Authority: AS 28.05.011

Sec. 11.46.360.
(2) "all-terrain vehicle" means a propelled vehicle that has three or more wheels or two or more tracks or treads, is less than 75 inches in width, has a dry weight of 800 pounds or less, is equipped with low pressure tires or rubberized or metal tracks or treads, and is designed primarily for travel over unimproved terrain;

(3) "motorcycle" means a vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider, designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, and having an engine with more than 50 cubic centimeters of displacement; "motorcycle" does not include a tractor or an "all-terrain vehicle";


Sec. 28.11.025. Claim of ownership by private property owner.

(c) In this section, "vehicle" means a
(1) passenger car, motor home, bus, truck, truck-tractor, motorcycle, motorbike, or similar motor vehicle that is designed for use primarily to transport a person or to transport or draw property on a highway or vehicular way; and
(2) snowmobile, three-wheeler, four-wheeler, or a similar off-highway motor vehicle designed or adapted for cross-country operation over unimproved terrain, ice, or snow and that has been declared by its owner at the time of registration and determined by the Department of Public Safety to be unsuitable for general highway use, although the vehicle may make incidental use of a highway as provided in this title, but not including implements of husbandry or special mobile equipment, such as construction machinery or earthmoving equipment.
_______________________________________

Sec. 28.90.990. Definitions for title.

(a) Unless otherwise specifically defined or unless the context otherwise requires, in this title and in regulations adopted under this title
(16 ) "motor vehicle" means a vehicle which is self-propelled except a vehicle moved by human or animal power;
(17 ) "motorcycle" means a vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground; the term does not include a tractor;
(18 ) "motor-driven cycle" means a motorcycle, motor scooter, motorized bicycle, or similar conveyance with a motor attached and having an engine with 50 or less cubic centimeters of displacement;

Sec. 28.90.995. Short title.
This title and the regulations adopted under it may be cited as the Alaska Uniform Vehicle Code.

I just haven't taken the time to go back and show her with the statues how wrong she is, in fact I probably will just go to a different DMV and work through it there, because I'm afraid I might just say something that I would regret later. I just have to keep in mind what my goal is and if I have to listen to the BS the authorities have to say to make sure I'm prepared next time I go in, well then so be it!
By the way does anyone know where on the bike Kawasaki would place the DOT sticker that would enable the bike if properly equipted for the time to be operated on the street?

[A2rider]

Nice you got your ducks in a row, but sorry they've given you the run around.

Went through the same thing on my p/u in Missouri. Had to dig out the book every time I got an inspection to show if a vehicle was sold w/o a bumper, I didn't have to have one. I'm glad I'm in KS and I can drive my POS in peace now!

[Summerheat]

Fantastic AK... looks like you found the exact language needed for your restore. Man I wish the internet was around when I did mine