If you’re interested in joining ABATE and representing your rights and South Carolina biker rights, ABATE will be meeting on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at 9 a.m. in front of the Calhoun statue at the Columbia State House (1101 Gervais Street, Columbia SC). During Lobby Day, you’ll be able to travel through the halls of the State House, with ABATE and their followers, to ensure that our public servants are looking out for our best interests and our rights.

To RSVP to this event, visit the ABATE Facebook page, here. Or share this post with your friends on Facebook.

View the flier for the Lobby Day event below:

For those of you who might not be familiar with ABATE of South Carolina, they are an organization based in South Carolina that represents the rights of motorcyclists across this great state. To learn more about ABATE of South Carolina, visit their website.

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South Carolina Motorcycle Law:

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

SECTION 56-5-3660. Helmets shall be worn by operators and passengers under age twenty-one; helmet design; list of approved helmets.

It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of twenty-one to operate or ride upon a two-wheeled motorized vehicle unless he wears a protective helmet of a type approved by the Department of Public Safety. Such a helmet must be equipped with either a neck or chin strap and be reflectorized on both sides thereof. The department is hereby authorized to adopt and amend regulations covering the types of helmets and the specifications therefor and to establish and maintain a list of approved helmets which meet the specifications as established hereunder.

If you are under 21 and are riding a motorcycle as either an operator or passenger- helmets are required!

SECTION 56-5-3670. Goggles or face shields shall be worn by operators under age twenty-one; list of approved goggles and face shields.

It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of twenty-one to operate a two-wheeled motorized vehicle unless he wears goggles or a face shield of a type approved by the Department of Public Safety. The department is hereby authorized to adopt and amend regulations covering types of goggles and face shields and the specifications therefor and to establish and maintain a list of approved goggles and face shields which meet the specifications as established hereunder.

**Image below taken from Maximumeyewear.com.

Image taken from Maximumeyewear.com

SECTION 56-5-3680. Wind screens.

The provisions of Section 56-5-3670 with respect to goggles and face shields shall not apply to the operator of a two-wheeled motorized vehicle equipped with a wind screen meeting specifications established by the Department of Public Safety. The department is hereby authorized to adopt and amend regulations covering types of wind screens and specifications therefor.

If you are under 21 and operating a motorcycle, you must wear goggles or a face shield unless your bike has a wind screen. However, if you are only a passenger, it appears this law does not apply.

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SECTION 56-5-3640. Motorcycle entitled to full use of lane; riding two or more abreast; overtaking and passing; operation in other instances.

(a) All motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane and no motor vehicle shall be driven in such a manner as to deprive any motorcycle of the full use of a lane. This shall not apply to motorcycles operated two abreast in a single lane.

**Many drivers fail to understand that a motorcycle is entitled to the same full use of a lane as if it were a car or truck.

(b) The operator of a motorcycle shall not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken.

**The same concept as if you were driving a car.

(c) No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic, or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles.

**Also known as “lane splitting,” this is not legal in South Carolina.

(Image below was taken from Motorcycle Cruiser)

Lane Splitting image taken from Motorcycle Cruiser

(d) Motorcycles shall not be operated more than two abreast in a single lane.

**As long as it’s only two bikes riding side by side, you are ok:

(Image below was taken from Diamondback Bobbers)

Image taken from Diamondback Bobbers

(e) Items (b) and (c) shall not apply to police officers in the performance of their official duties.

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