---
title: O.C.G.A. § 40-6-311. Manner of riding motorcycle generally.
collection: code
id: 40-6-311
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 40-6-311 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/40-6-311
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/40-6-311.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/40-6-311/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t40-ch6-16-(v29)-2018-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=97c394d6_0#page=237
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC / UNIFORM RULES OF THE ROAD / SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES / MOTORCYCLES
---

# O.C.G.A. § 40-6-311. Manner of riding motorcycle generally.

(a) A person operating a motorcycle shall ride only upon the permanent and regular seat attached thereto; and such operator shall not carry any other person nor shall any other person ride on a motorcycle unless such motorcycle is designed to carry more than one person, in which event a passenger may ride upon the permanent and regular seat if designed for two persons or upon another seat firmly attached to the motorcycle at the rear or side of the operator.

(b) A person shall ride upon a motorcycle equipped with handlebars for directional control only by sitting astride the seat, facing forward, and with one leg on either side of the motorcycle.

(c) No person shall operate a motorcycle while carrying any package, bundle, or other article which prevents him from keeping both hands on the handlebars.

(d) No operator shall carry any person, nor shall any person ride, in a position that will interfere with the operation or control of the motorcycle or the view of the operator.

(e) No person shall operate or ride upon a motorcycle unless he shall wear some type of footwear in addition to or other than socks.

## History

Ga. L. 1953, Nov.-Dec. Sess., p. 556, § 95; Ga. L. 1962, p. 716, § 1; Ga. L. 1969, p. 732, § 1; Ga. L. 1972, p. 475, § 1; Code 1933, § 68A-1302, enacted by Ga. L. 1974, p. 633, § 1; Ga. L. 1985, p. 149, § 40; Ga. L. 1990, p. 2048, § 5; Ga. L. 2017, p. 184, § 6A/HB 136.

## Other Notes

The 2017 amendment, effective July 1, 2017, in subsection (b), inserted ‘‘equipped with handlebars for directional control’’, substituted ‘‘by’’ for ‘‘while’’, and inserted ‘‘and’’.