Q: If I was riding a motorcycle without a motorcycle license. Do the police have to impound my bike? Or can I transport
Can I take my bike home in the back of my truck? I had a fully registered truck at the scene to take my bike and they impounded my bike anyways. The bike was registered and insured and I have a valid drivers license. Just not a motorcycle license. Do they have the option to let me take my property home as long as I'm not operating it on the street?
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
- California
- (916) 704-3009
- View Profile
- Answered
A:
In California, riding a motorcycle without a proper motorcycle license is a violation, and law enforcement has the authority to impound the vehicle. While you might have had a registered and insured bike and a valid driver's license, the fact that you didn’t have the required motorcycle endorsement plays a crucial role. The decision to impound is typically at the discretion of the officer, and they are not obligated to let you transport the bike home, even if you had a truck ready.
Having a valid driver's license for other vehicles does not substitute for the motorcycle license, which is legally required to operate a motorcycle on public roads. The fact that you were caught riding without this specific endorsement likely influenced the officer's decision to impound the bike.
You can still try to argue your case or seek legal advice, but the impoundment was within the officer's rights based on the situation. It's essential to resolve the license issue before riding again to avoid similar problems in the future.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
