Don't get hit with a ticket. Biker laws to know before Myrtle Beach Bike Rally
The last thing a motorcyclist needs during the Myrtle Beach Bike Rally is a traffic ticket after doing a burnout or not following the helmet laws.
The Sun News spoke to Chad Fuller, of Fuller Law for Riders, to get an idea of what laws bikers break and what they should know before making their way into the Myrtle Beach area.
Aside from speeding, incorrect merging is one of the top crimes his firm deals with, Fuller said. The ticket is almost always given at the intersection where U.S. 17 splits into S.C. 17 Business near Suck Bang Blow in Murrells Inlet.
Fuller acknowledges the intersection is confusing and urges people to slow down when exiting or entering U.S. 17 Business.
'Take your time. That goes for motorcyclists and other motor vehicles,' Fuller said.
Another charge Fuller sees is from motorcycles lane splitting, or riding between cars on roadways. The practice is legal in some states, but not South Carolina, according to state law.
However, lane sharing is permitted — no more than two motorcycles can share a traffic lane at a time. In Myrtle Beach, up to two motorcycles can be in one parking spot, but both have to pay, the city website says.
While many believe South Carolina doesn't have a helmet law, there is one in place for people under 21, according to state law. Anyone under the legal drinking age must wear goggles or a face shield and a helmet while riding a two-wheeled vehicle.
Sometimes traffic lights struggle to detect a motorcycle. Lights rely on either an electromagnetic loop in the pavement or cameras to identify when a car is stopped. However, given the smaller frame, these systems do not always recognize on a motorcycle.
Motorcycle lobby groups rallied to change the law to help with this several years ago, Fuller said. If a motorcycle sits at a light for 120 seconds, the driver can then treat the light like a stop sign. The motorcyclist must yield to oncoming traffic, but if it is safe, can run the red light without breaking the law.
Fuller also encourages bikers to remember laws can change depending on the municipality. For example, Myrtle Beach bans 'burning rubber' in its noise ordinances.
The city also requires promoters of rally events in Myrtle Beach that cause significant public disturbances and place greater demands on law enforcement or public services to pay for the additional costs.
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