Florida Basics

Disclaimer . . I just grabbed this off the web, but it covers the basics that seem to come up.

316.2085 Riding on motorcycles or mopeds.--
(1) A person operating a motorcycle or moped 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 or moped, unless such motorcycle or moped 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 or moped at the rear or side of the operator.
(2) A person shall ride upon a motorcycle or moped only while sitting astride the seat, facing forward, with one leg on each side of the motorcycle or moped.
(3) No person shall operate a motorcycle or moped while carrying any package, bundle, or other article which prevents the person from keeping both hands on the handlebars.
(4) 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 moped or the view of the operator.
(5) A person under 16 years of age may not:
(a) Operate a motorcycle that has a motor with more than 150 cubic centimeters displacement.
(b) Rent a motorcycle or a moped.
(6) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation as provided in chapter 318.

316.2095 Footrests, handholds, and handlebars.--
(1) Any motorcycle carrying a passenger, other than in a sidecar or enclosed cab, shall be equipped with footrests for such passenger.
(2) No person shall operate any motorcycle with handlebars or with handgrips that are higher than the top of the shoulders of the person operating the motorcycle while properly seated upon the motorcycle.
(3) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.
History.--s. 1, ch. 71-135; s. 1, ch. 76-31; s. 166, ch. 99-248; s. 5, ch. 2005-164; s. 12, ch. 2006-290.
Note.--Former s. 316.278.
316.209 Operating motorcycles on roadways laned for traffic.--
(1) All motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane and no motor vehicle shall be driven in such manner as to deprive any motorcycle of the full use of a lane. This subsection shall not apply to motorcycles operated two abreast in a single lane.
(2) The operator of a motorcycle shall not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken.
(3) No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles.
(4) Motorcycles shall not be operated more than two abreast in a single lane.
(5) Subsections (2) and (3) do not apply to police officers or firefighters in the performance of their official duties.
(6) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation as provided in chapter 318.
History.--s. 1, ch. 71-135; s. 1, ch. 76-31; s. 165, ch. 99-248; s. 1, ch. 2003-92.
Note.--Former s. 316.109.
316.211 Equipment for motorcycle and moped riders.--
(1) A person may not operate or ride upon a motorcycle unless the person is properly wearing protective headgear securely fastened upon his or her head which complies with Federal Motorcycle Vehicle Safety Standard 218 promulgated by the United States Department of Transportation. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall adopt this standard by agency rule.
(2) A person may not operate a motorcycle unless the person is wearing an eye-protective device over his or her eyes of a type approved by the department.
(3)(a) This section does not apply to persons riding within an enclosed cab or to any person 16 years of age or older who is operating or riding upon a motorcycle powered by a motor with a displacement of 50 cubic centimeters or less or is rated not in excess of 2 brake horsepower and which is not capable of propelling such motorcycle at a speed greater than 30 miles per hour on level ground.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a person over 21 years of age may operate or ride upon a motorcycle without wearing protective headgear securely fastened upon his or her head if such person is covered by an insurance policy providing for at least $10,000 in medical benefits for injuries incurred as a result of a crash while operating or riding on a motorcycle.
(4) A person under 16 years of age may not operate or ride upon a moped unless the person is properly wearing protective headgear securely fastened upon his or her head which complies with Federal Motorcycle Vehicle Safety Standard 218 promulgated by the United States Department of Transportation.
(5) The department shall make available a list of protective headgear approved in this section, and the list shall be provided on request.
(6) Each motorcycle registered to a person under 21 years of age must display a license plate that is unique in design and color.
(7) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.
316.410 Taillamps.--
(1) Every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle shall have at least one taillamp which shall be located at a height of not more than 72 nor less than 20 inches.
(2) Either a taillamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate and render it clearly legible from a distance of 50 feet to the rear. Any taillamp or taillamps, together with any separate lamp or lamps for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be so wired as to be lighted whenever the headlamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted.
(3) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.
History.--s. 1, ch. 71-135; s. 1, ch. 76-31; s. 223, ch. 99-248.
Note.--Former s. 316.244.
316.405 Motorcycle headlights to be turned on.--
(1) Any person who operates a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle on the public streets or highways shall, while so engaged, have the headlight or headlights of such motorcycle or motor-driven cycle turned on. Failure to comply with this section during the hours from sunrise to sunset, unless compliance is otherwise required by law, shall not be admissible as evidence of negligence in a civil action. During the hours of operation between sunrise and sunset, the headlights may modulate either the upper beam or the lower beam from its maximum intensity to a lower intensity, in accordance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 571.108.
(2) Failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall not be deemed negligence per se in any civil action, but the violation of this section may be considered on the issue of negligence if the violation of this section is a proximate cause of a crash.
(3) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation as provided in chapter 318.
316.415 Reflectors.--Every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle shall carry on the rear, either as part of the taillamp or separately, at least one red reflector. A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.

316.420 Stop lamps.--Every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle shall be equipped with at least one stop lamp meeting the requirements of s. 316.234(1). A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.

316.425 Lamps on parked motorcycles.--
(1) Every motorcycle must comply with the provisions of s. 316.229 regarding lamps on parked vehicles and the use thereof.
(2) Motor-driven cycles need not be equipped with parking lamps or otherwise comply with the provisions of s. 316.229.
(3) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.
316.430 Multiple-beam road-lighting equipment.--
(1) Every motorcycle other than a motor-driven cycle shall be equipped with multiple-beam road-lighting equipment.
(2) Such equipment shall:
(a) Reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 300 feet ahead when the uppermost distribution of light is selected;
(b) Reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 150 feet ahead when the lowermost distribution of light is selected.

On a straight, level road under any condition of loading none of the high intensity portion of the beam shall be directed to strike the eyes of an approaching driver.
(3) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.
316.455 Other equipment.--Every motorcycle and every motor-driven cycle when operated upon a highway shall comply with the requirements and limitations of:
(1) Section 316.271(1) and (2) on the requirement for horns and warning devices.
(2) Section 316.271(3) on the requirement for the use of horns.
(3) Section 316.271(4) on the requirement for sirens, whistles, and bells.
(4) Section 316.271(5) on the requirement for theft alarms.
(5) Section 316.271(6) on the requirement for emergency vehicles.
(6) Section 316.272 on the requirement for mufflers and prevention of noise.
(7) Section 316.294 on the requirement for mirrors.

A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.