Getting Licensed

In Pennsylvania, a M Class endorsement on your regular driver's license is required.

First, I went to the DMV and took a written (online) test, and passed. When the young lady was about to my "learner's permit" she informed me that I had an "outstanding issue" with the State of Arizona, which I had to resolve before she could issue the permit.

I had not been in Arizona since the 1980's so I was convinced there was some mistake, but when I contacted the Arizona DMV, they informed me that I had a $20 outstanding fee from 1986.  (This stemmed from a speeding ticket in Arizona while living in Texas, where I paid the fine but did not go to court and somehow was charged a fee for "failure to appear" which then generated an AZ license that was then suspended. I could not even remember the incident, but my son reminded me that we had taken our Formula Ford to Phoenix for a SCCA Race in 1986.) I was shocked that this had never come up before since I had changed states twice since, but apparently computers are now reporting to and monitoring a national database that was "improved" in 2000. Here is a quote from the NHTSA--

"The National Driver Register (NDR) is a division in the National Center for Statistics and Analysis under the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The NDR maintains the computerized database known as the Problem Driver Pointer System (PDPS) which contains information on individuals whose privilege to operate a motor vehicle has been revoked, suspended, canceled or denied or who have been convicted of serious traffic-related offenses. The records maintained at the NDR consist of identification information including name, date of birth, gender, driver license number, and reporting State. Based on information received as a result of an NDR search, PDPS will "point" the State of Inquiry (SOI) to the State of Record (SOR), where an individual's driver status and history information is maintained."

Arizona would not take a credit card, only a cashiers check or money order via mail. So, after sending a $20.00 USPS Money Order, about a week later, I was able to get my PA Class M Learner's Permit. 

Once you have the Learner's Permit, you can ride alone during the day for a year. Within that time, you either attend a Rider Safety Training Class or you take a DMV Driving Test. I chose the Rider Safety Training Class.

https://www.learntoridepa.com/

The Total Control Beginners Riding Clinic was a four day event attended by 11 riders. They provide the bikes. I was given a Suzuki 250. Great training. They stamped my permit and sent forms to PA to have my driver's license given the M Class endorsement.  PA pays for the training! 

We had two days of class room training including a comprehensive written test. Also, two days of riding 15-20 mph in a parking lot followed by a riding test. Essentially showing competence hat weaving thru cones, stopping and swerving safely, etc. 

I actually learned quite a bit and as a "rusty" rider, my confidence and riding skill was improved. Countersteering or "push left, lean left, turn left" as a concept was a new concept.

Most of the riders in the class were younger than my children and several were the age of my grandchildren.