This is probably very true. How many law enforcement experts know the difference between a moped and a similar-looking motorcycle that requires registration, insurance, and a motorcycle license? Other states require mopeds to be registered and have moped license plates. Others, such as New Jersey, go further and require operators to purchase a moped license. To legally drive a moped in Connecticut, you need to make sure you follow the rules and regulations. Failure to do so may result in fines, fines or licence suspension. DMV typically determines whether a vehicle is suitable for use on a highway and therefore subject to registration as a motor vehicle by complying with a dozen state laws that primarily address various types of required equipment such as silencers, brakes, and lights. Pocket bikes and motorized scooters usually meet few of these requirements. Motor vehicles are also required by law to have vehicle identification numbers in order to be registered (CGS § 14-149 (d)) that do not have pocket bikes and motorized scooters because their manufacturers have not intended them for road traffic. Pocket bikes are designated and marketed by their manufacturers for closed track racing, not as road transport. Note that some cities and local jurisdictions may have additional regulations for moped riders. (e.g., road restrictions, licensing requirements, etc.).
Check with your local motor vehicle/government department to make sure you and your moped are legal on the road. Worcester, Massachusetts is one of many communities trying to solve the problem of pocket bikes and motorized scooters. The recently passed ordinance (attached) prohibits the operation of a scooter on any public or private street in the city, including the sidewalk, as well as on any other public property, including schools, playgrounds and parks. Scooter operators can be fined $100. Anyone driving as a passenger can be fined $50. A copy of the Worcester, Massachusetts order prohibiting the driving of scooters on public and private roads and on all public property is attached. Most major motorcycle insurance providers also offer coverage for small bikes, scooters and mopeds. Scooters – Many scooters are motorcycles and require registration and a motorcycle driver`s license to ride on the road. Some scooters fall under the definition of an “auxiliary motor bicycle (moped), as found in Title 14 Sec.
14-286 of the Law of the State of Connecticut. An “auxiliary motor bike” would not need to be registered, but the operator would need to have a valid driver`s license to ride on the road. The minimum legal age to obtain a driver`s license in Connecticut is 16. It is up to our state legislators and the DMV to issue guidelines to make moped drivers safer and educate the public and law enforcement. A few years ago, they passed the law that requires a mandatory safety course to get a motorcycle license. Why not something similar for mopeds? It seems that they are not interested. An email request to the VDD Office remained unanswered. Although Connecticut law requires a motor vehicle to be registered to operate on a highway, we could not find an explicit statement in laws prohibiting motor vehicles from using public roads unless they are registered as motor vehicles. Some municipalities appear to have addressed the issue of regulating pocket bicycles by trying to enforce the requirements of the Moped Act, but this approach could prove problematic since many pocket bicycles can exceed the maximum speed of 30 miles per hour prescribed for auxiliary motor bicycles. Since bicycles equipped with auxiliary motors are legal for road traffic, trying to regulate them as mopeds gives them the legal right to use the road as long as the operator is at least 16 years old and has a driving license.
For a complete list of rules and regulations regarding mopeds in Connecticut, contact your local DMV office. If you like small motorcycles, you should check out my other website: virago250street.com What laws apply to mopeds? According to the general laws of Connecticut, these mopeds under 50 cc are defined as “auxiliary motor bicycles” and must therefore comply with the rules established for bicycles. This is in addition to some specific restrictions that apply to mopeds. Other states have similar laws. In Connecticut, mopeds fall into the category of motorized bicycle vehicles, which are defined as follows: A motorcycle is a motor vehicle with no more than three wheels that come into contact with the ground and have a seat or saddle on which the cyclist sits, or a platform on which the cyclist stands. The definition includes motorized bicycles, with the exception of those falling within the legal definition of bicycles with auxiliary motor (CGS § 14-1). Bicycles with auxiliary engines are defined as bicycles with engines with a capacity of less than 50 cubic centimeters of piston displacement that have no more than two brake horsepower, do not reach more than 30 miles per hour and are equipped with an automatic transmission. Bicycles with auxiliary motors, commonly known as mopeds, can be used on public roads, but the operator must be at least 16 years old and have a valid driving license (CGS § 14-286). State law states that mopeds may not be used on sidewalks, restricted highways, or turns in Connecticut. However, it can be driven on any other type of public road, unless a local community has rules that say otherwise. If the maximum speed of your moped is below the speed limit of the road you are riding on, you should stay as far as possible on the right side of the road, take the lane available for traffic on the far right or use a shoulder on the right side of the road. The only exceptions are if you have to make a left turn or leave the right side to avoid danger.
Currently, Connecticut state laws only require the use of helmets on mopeds for anyone under the age of 18. Helmet use is not mandatory for adult moped riders or adult passengers, but for drivers aged 16 or 17. If a cyclist drives a moped with an apprenticeship or teaching permit, he must wear a helmet regardless of age. In my opinion, this poses a growing safety risk, as more and more people buy them and take to the streets without knowing how to use them safely or what laws apply. It is very frustrating when cyclists and mopeds illegally travel on roads that obstruct traffic and then avoid other frustrated vehicles because the driver does not stay on the right. What`s even more frustrating is that it leads to a misperception of motorcyclists because the non-motorcycle public puts these people in the same bag as motorcycles. Another consideration is that mopeds without registration do not require license plates or insurance. What happens if one of these unskilled operators attacks a pedestrian or vehicle and then flees to the scene of the accident? It seems that more and more people are using motorcycles and scooters to reduce personal transportation costs as gasoline prices rise.
Some motorcycles and scooters with smaller engines can get 60-70 mpg or better. Mopeds under 50cc can reach or exceed an impressive 100 mpg. Thus, pocket bikes and motorized scooters fall into an uncertain area of the law, as they are generally not considered motor vehicles, but are not explicitly prohibited on public roads. Although some municipalities seem to be trying to regulate them as auxiliary motor bicycles, this can be problematic as it gives them a legal right to use the road. Significant safety concerns are raised, especially when it comes to pocket bikes, which could make it a counterproductive approach. • The operator must be at least 16 years old and have a driving license. • Mopeds/bicycles must follow all standard rules of the road, including traffic lights and signs. They cannot be used on a sidewalk, restricted highway or bend. • Mopeds must not exceed 30 mph. • Mopeds and bicycles must be driven as close as possible to the right side of the roadway.
The only exceptions are when 1) make a left turn; (2) overtaking and overtaking another vehicle travelling in the same direction; (3) overtaking and overtaking pedestrians, parked vehicles, animals or obstacles on the right side of the road; and (4) whether the right side of the road is closed to traffic during construction or repair. • No passengers are allowed unless they are specially designed for passengers. • Mopeds/bicycles may not be mounted more than two next to each other, except on roads or sections of road intended for the exclusive use of bicycles. • Persons driving side by side must not interfere with normal and reasonable traffic and drive in one lane within a single lane. • State laws prohibit the operation of bicycles or mopeds under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substances. A moped has no more than 100 cm³ of manual displacement and cannot reach more than 30 mph on a flat surface. If it does not meet the three listed requirements, it is considered a motorcycle. A scooter can be a moped or a motorcycle, depending on its size. Riding a motorcycle requires CY confirmation on your Michigan license. A properly registered moped can be driven on the road by any driver holding a driving licence or by persons aged 15 years or over and holding a moped driving licence. Does the scooter need to be registered? If your scooter has an engine size of at least 50 cc, it must be registered in Connecticut and display a license plate.
Scooters with 49cc engines are actually considered mopeds and don`t need to be registered, although you still need a driver`s license to drive them.