Bad day for scooter drivers

[hoosierdoc]

Yesterday my wife saw someone handcuffed and taken away outside her office. The guy had been on a scooter. While heading to dinner we saw a scooter hanging from the strap of a tow truck as the officer and tow guy tried to secure it. Towing a scooter was a funny sight.

Did I miss an anti-scooter law starting July 1?

 

[THard6]

Indiana a step closer to new regulations for mopeds | WTHITV.com

there is just a story about it.
i do not want to be that jerk, but those things are VERY dangerous and ALWAYS in the darn way!

 

[wabashman]

Where I'm at, most people hate those darn scooters. Nothing but 16 year olds and drunks ride them. Add in the fact they go 20 mph, and the riders always go down the middle of the road so you cannot pass them. They may be ok for city uses, but they should be banned for use in the country.

 

[Bigtanker]

It's not the scooters fault. It's just a tool used to get from point A to point B. Problems come from the PEOPLE using the scooters.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

Where I'm at, most people hate those darn scooters. Nothing but 16 year olds and drunks ride them. Add in the fact they go 20 mph, and the riders always go down the middle of the road so you cannot pass them. They may be ok for city uses, but they should be banned for use in the country.

I know and share your frustration. Unfortunately for my lead foot, they have the same right as you and I do to that lane.

 

[wabashman]

Oh I know they, but seriously, they could get over and let people safely pass them instead of riding a foot off the 'center line'. When I have the diesel + gooseneck trailer + backhoe all loaded up and driving at max of 40 down the country roads I get over as far as I can to let people pass me instead of causing a 10 car line behind myself.

 

[eldirector]

I know and share your frustration. Unfortunately for my lead foot, they have the same right as you and I do to that lane.

Uh, nope. It just has never been enforced.

IC 9-21-5-7
Reduction of speed; impeding normal and reasonable movement;
right-of-way to other vehicles
Sec. 7. A person may not drive a motor vehicle at a slow speed
that impedes or blocks the normal and reasonable movement of
traffic, except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or
in compliance with the law. A person who is driving at a slow speed
so that three (3) or more other vehicles are blocked and cannot pass
on the left around the vehicle shall give right-of-way to the other
vehicles by pulling off to the right of the right lane at the earliest
reasonable opportunity and allowing the blocked vehicles to pass.

Low speed vehicles
Sec. 8.5. A person may not drive a low speed vehicle on a
highway that has a speed limit in excess of thirty-five (35) miles per
hour.

 

[1775usmarine]

So was this bill signed?

 

[churchmouse]

Scooters suck. "Most" of those who ride them Suck. No license/multiple DUI's etc.
I saw 4 kids on one just yesterday running down the road. Looked like a pic from some 3rd world country. If you hit one of these non-insured un-licensed POS it is your A$$.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

It's not the scooters fault. It's just a tool used to get from point A to point B. Problems come from the PEOPLE using the scooters.

Some of them will pull to the side of the road and let you pass but they're the minority.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

Low speed vehicles
Sec. 8.5. A person may not drive a low speed vehicle on a
highway that has a speed limit in excess of thirty-five (35) miles per
hour.

Learn something new everyday. Apparently this doesn't apply to the Amish or the bike riders up in Monroe county.

I knew about the 3 cars deal.

 

[HoughMade]

A scooter is not a "low speed vehicle under the law". Essentially, that's only electric cars that can't go more than 35mph.

Technically, under the law all a "scooter" means is a 2 wheeled vehicle with a step-through design. The engine, speed and other factors determine whether it is regulated in the same fashion as a motorcycle, or has very few regulations. However, when people refer to "scooters" they usually mean what the law calls a "motorized bicycle" which is not over 50ccs, not over 2hp, automatic transmission, design speed not to exceed 25mph. If it has 2 or 3 wheels and an engine and fails any of those, it is a motorcycle under the law.

I built this specifically to be deemed a "motorized bicycle" under the law...and avoid a hassle:

Oh, and just a small pet peeve- if it has 2 wheels and you sit on it, you are "riding", not "driving".

 

[wabashman]

Some of them will pull to the side of the road and let you pass but they're the minority.

Those one's must be only up by you. None here do. They hear a car coming up behind them and move more towards the center line.

 

[HoughMade]

My personal favorite is the fat guys (realizing I'm an imposing figure myself) hunched over the handlebars trying coax 1 or 2 mph more out of that poor, overworked little engine.

 

[churchmouse]

A scooter is not a "low speed vehicle under the law". Essentially, that's only electric cars that can't go more than 35mph.

Technically, under the law all a "scooter" means is a 2 wheeled vehicle with a step-through design. The engine, speed and other factors determine whether it is regulated in the same fashion as a motorcycle, or has very few regulations. However, when people refer to "scooters" they usually mean what the law calls a "motorized bicycle" which is not over 50ccs, not over 2hp, automatic transmission, design speed not to exceed 25mph. If it has 2 or 3 wheels and an engine and fails any of those, it is a motorcycle under the law.

I built this specifically to be deemed a "motorized bicycle" under the law...and avoid a hassle:

Oh, and just a small pet peeve- if it has 2 wheels and you sit on it, you are "riding", not "driving".

This and you are an exception to the norm. Nice bike.

 

[Suprtek]

Scooters suck. "Most" of those who ride them Suck. No license/multiple DUI's etc.
I saw 4 kids on one just yesterday running down the road. Looked like a pic from some 3rd world country. If you hit one of these non-insured un-licensed POS it is your A$$.

I can certainly understand the frustration brought on by those operating scooters improperly. They can be a real PITA and often downright dangerous. What I don't understand is this: If they can suddenly start enforcing new laws regarding scooters, why were they not enforcing the existing laws which would have eliminated the need for the new ones? If someone is drunk or driving improperly, it is just as illegal on a scooter as it is in a car regardless of whether or not there is a license, registration or insurance required.

I bought a nice scooter a long time ago so I could have a cheap alternate form of transportation that costs me nothing to just sit there if I'm not using it (no plates, registration or insurance). I've got nearly 10K miles on that little thing without ever being a part of the problems most people complain about. Now, because they failed to enforce existing laws, I am subject to penalties from new laws even though I was never a part of the problem. Sound familiar?

I am choosing to ignore these new laws requiring registration of my scooter (The new law still doesn't require insurance). I will continue to use it with common sense as I always have. From there I will just have to see how it goes. If I end up being hassled about it too much, I will have to decide then what to do about it. I don't yet know what that decision will be other than I know I won't be paying for registration.

 

[Dirtebiker]

A scooter is not a "low speed vehicle under the law". Essentially, that's only electric cars that can't go more than 35mph.

Technically, under the law all a "scooter" means is a 2 wheeled vehicle with a step-through design. The engine, speed and other factors determine whether it is regulated in the same fashion as a motorcycle, or has very few regulations. However, when people refer to "scooters" they usually mean what the law calls a "motorized bicycle" which is not over 50ccs, not over 2hp, automatic transmission, design speed not to exceed 25mph. If it has 2 or 3 wheels and an engine and fails any of those, it is a motorcycle under the law.

I built this specifically to be deemed a "motorized bicycle" under the law...and avoid a hassle:

Oh, and just a small pet peeve- if it has 2 wheels and you sit on it, you are "riding", not "driving".

That's awesome Ho! Going for the Harley look?

 

[Trigger Time]

Damn if you really own that bike that's awesome!!!

 

[wabashman]

that is a really nice 'motorized bike' you have there.

 

[HoughMade]

Damn if you really own that bike that's awesome!!!

Own it? Well, yes. I built it from scratch. I mean, Honda built the engine, but...