Is it legal for motorcycles to pop a wheelie on the highway? – Jalopnik

For the uninitiated, “wheelie” is a term that refers to lifting the front wheel of a motorcycle off the ground while riding (although the term applies to other vehicles as well). A wheelie is officially recognized by Merriam-Websterand the Urban dictionary defines it as “the coolest trick ever.” But despite these broad definitions, “wheelie” isn’t a very legally robust term, so determining the legality of pulling one, especially on the highway, requires a bit of detective work.

In general, doing a wheelie on public roads is illegal in the US, but the exact legal codes that apply to wheelies vary by state. A handful of states have specific language prohibiting the operation of a motorcycle with only one wheel on the ground (notably Florida, Maine, Illinois, and Tennessee). According to Florida State Legislature and its motor vehicle statutes: “A person may ride a motorcycle or moped only while sitting astride the seat, with both wheels on the ground at all times.” So no side saddle and no wheelies.

In most other states, the legal ban on wheelies generally falls under a broader set of reckless driving laws, and the enforcement of those laws often depends on the discretion of law enforcement. In other words, in almost every state there is room in the law for the police to stop you for a wheelie, especially if the officer considers it reckless.

Besides being extremely physically dangerous (you can lose your steering ability, increase the risk of a crash, roll back on yourself… need I continue?), being caught doing a wheelie can carry serious legal consequences. In many states, such as Nevada, wheelies can be considered trick driving and classified as reckless driving.

In most states, reckless driving is severely punished across the board with four-figure fines as a general penalty. In New York, for example, reckless driving is considered a criminal offense and can result in a prison sentence – far more than the standard fines for traffic violations and driver’s license points. A bill proposed last year in Virginia would, if passed, allow judges to order those convicted of reckless driving to install speed limiters in their cars — though it’s unclear whether that law could extend to motorcycles and wheelies. The moral of the story here is that the legal consequences of reckless driving convictions are serious, and wheelies can fall within the legally enforceable definition of reckless driving.

So what is the best course of action? As fun as wheelies look and feel, it’s probably smart to leave figure skating to the experts on closed circuits. But if you can’t help it, maybe consider buying a small electric pit bike and taking it to your local skate park for wheelies. Better yet, go beyond the standard MSF course and take a proper wheelie course at your local race track.