Video: More motorcycles bring more risks for drivers

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SEATTLE – Many people are turning to two wheels instead of four amid rising temperatures and gas prices.

But in Washington state, if a motorcycle rider is involved in a crash, he or she may not be the one having to pay the bill.

Motorcycle riders aren't required to have insurance.

"The motorcycles I've stopped in my career, I would say probably 90 percent don't have insurance," said Trooper Cliff Pratt with the Washington State Patrol.

Lawmakers say motorcyclists are more likely to hurt themselves and thus should decide whether they want to insure themselves.

"I would think it would be necessary to require the motorcyclist have insurance, but it’s not up to me," said J.C. Fawcett, a defensive driving teacher in Bellevue.

Fawcett says he doesn’t understand the insurance loophole, especially because as part of his class, the state requires him to show a video warning drivers about safety sharing the road with motorcycles.

"They're harder to see and they move quicker," said Fawcett.

Motorcycle rider Trey Gatrel bought insurance to be safe, but he knows many others who didn't.

"It can get really expensive. I mean a couple of months you can rack up a couple thousand dollars for these things," said Gatrel.

Until there's a change, troopers say fend for yourself.

"You just got to keep an eye on them and hope you don't run into them and they don't run into you," said Pratt.

Every few years, there's a bill proposed in the state legislature to close the motorcycle insurance loophole, but every time supporters are not able to muster enough votes.