Bad day for scooter drivers

[Suprtek]

I posted about this earlier but I will mention it again. I have yet to see any complaint about scooters (meaning those less than 50cc) mentioned in this thread or anywhere else that would not be eliminated if existing laws were properly enforced. Drunk driving or disobeying traffic laws are already illegal while riding a scooter without any additional laws. If the existing laws can't be enforced, how will the new laws do any better? This same concept applies just as much in this situation as it does in many firearms law situations. Yet many posting in favor of these new laws for scooters are the same people against similar types of laws regarding firearms. Why? I realize there is no such thing as a "scooter amendment" in the constitution. However, I'd like to think that any freedom loving American would be against penalizing everyone for the deeds of a few when those deeds are already illegal. I've owned and used a 49cc scooter for years. Although I feel it is really irrelevant, I have multiple valid reasons for doing so that do not include my lack of ability to legally drive a car or my desire to be a nuisance to other drivers on the road. No matter what new laws may be passed, I will not be registering it or insuring it. If this puts me on the wrong side of the law, so be it. It won't be the first time or the last that I make the conscious decision to ignore what I know to be an unjust law. I choose to do this not because I want to make some kind of statement about laws concerning scooters, but because an unjust law is an unjust law.

 

[hornadylnl]

I posted about this earlier but I will mention it again. I have yet to see any complaint about scooters (meaning those less than 50cc) mentioned in this thread or anywhere else that would not be eliminated if existing laws were properly enforced. Drunk driving or disobeying traffic laws are already illegal while riding a scooter without any additional laws. If the existing laws can't be enforced, how will the new laws do any better? This same concept applies just as much in this situation as it does in many firearms law situations. Yet many posting in favor of these new laws for scooters are the same people against similar types of laws regarding firearms. Why? I realize there is no such thing as a "scooter amendment" in the constitution. However, I'd like to think that any freedom loving American would be against penalizing everyone for the deeds of a few when those deeds are already illegal. I've owned and used a 49cc scooter for years. Although I feel it is really irrelevant, I have multiple valid reasons for doing so that do not include my lack of ability to legally drive a car or my desire to be a nuisance to other drivers on the road. No matter what new laws may be passed, I will not be registering it or insuring it. If this puts me on the wrong side of the law, so be it. It won't be the first time or the last that I make the conscious decision to ignore what I know to be an unjust law. I choose to do this not because I want to make some kind of statement about laws concerning scooters, but because an unjust law is an unjust law.

It's not about the scooters. It's about the predominant demographic who use them.

 

[Dr.Midnight]

Bloomington is starting to get lousy with these things. Yesterday, there were a couple of dumbasses riding two-up on a 50cc scooter held together by duct tape. The piece of crap was so overloaded both guys had to push the stupid thing with their feet like the Flintstones in order for the damn thing to move. I watched them pull right out on College Ave. with no regard for traffic. They had people slamming on their brakes and cutting over in the next lane trying to get around them. Those two had traffic so messed up for a few blocks it was unreal. The classiest touch was both of them riding shirtless smoking cigarettes and showing off their homemade tattoos.

 

[churchmouse]

Bloomington is starting to get lousy with these things. Yesterday, there were a couple of dumbasses riding two-up on a 50cc scooter held together by duct tape. The piece of crap was so overloaded both guys had to push the stupid thing with their feet like the Flintstones in order for the damn thing to move. I watched them pull right out on College Ave. with no regard for traffic. They had people slamming on their brakes and cutting over in the next lane trying to get around them. Those two had traffic so messed up for a few blocks it was unreal. The classiest touch was both of them riding shirtless smoking cigarettes and showing off their homemade tattoos.

Booze and meth makes you invisible.

 

[Cemetery-man]

The classiest touch was both of them riding shirtless smoking cigarettes and showing off their homemade tattoos.

Are you sure they weren't Harley riders?

 

[bwframe]

Bloomington is starting to get lousy with these things. Yesterday, there were a couple of dumbasses riding two-up on a 50cc scooter held together by duct tape. The piece of crap was so overloaded both guys had to push the stupid thing with their feet like the Flintstones in order for the damn thing to move. I watched them pull right out on College Ave. with no regard for traffic. They had people slamming on their brakes and cutting over in the next lane trying to get around them. Those two had traffic so messed up for a few blocks it was unreal. The classiest touch was both of them riding shirtless smoking cigarettes and showing off their homemade tattoos.

I rode back and forth through Columbus today. Quite a few "poor people" were two up on scooters, obviously making beer/smoke runs.

 

[BE Mike]

I rode back and forth through Columbus today. Quite a few "poor people" were two up on scooters, obviously making beer/smoke runs.

So, you not only don't like their means of transportation, you don't like the way they spend their money (based on your assumption)? A lot of middle class folks drink beer and smoke. It doesn't make them bad people. I'm thinking that you wouldn't like these scooter riders even if you followed them to a church service.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

no one in there right mind chooses to ride a scooter when they are allowed to use something better.

Well, it just so happens my friend is a retired Lafayette cop, when he lived in West Lafayette he drove a moped to work every day, even in winter. Had to wear his uniform so he wouldn't get run over.

I hope the recent amendments to Title 9 clear up any problems we have with scooters, but I understand it is the people not the type of conveyance that is the problem.

 

[bwframe]

So, you not only don't like their means of transportation, you don't like the way they spend their money (based on your assumption)? A lot of middle class folks drink beer and smoke. It doesn't make them bad people. I'm thinking that you wouldn't like these scooter riders even if you followed them to a church service.

Quite simply, unqualified operators are a hazard on the roadways that the rest of us pay for and share. You can keep attempting to inject your "feel guilty" points, but it will not work. It does not matter what excuse you use for these folks taking advantage of this loophole. It needs eliminated.

 

[BE Mike]

Quite simply, unqualified operators are a hazard on the roadways that the rest of us pay for and share. You can keep attempting to inject your "feel guilty" points, but it will not work. It does not matter what excuse you use for these folks taking advantage of this loophole. It needs eliminated.

I suppose that you have statistics to back up your statement that scooter riders are a hazard.

 

[bwframe]

Quite simply, unqualified operators are a hazard on the roadways that the rest of us pay for and share. You can keep attempting to inject your "feel guilty" points, but it will not work. It does not matter what excuse you use for these folks taking advantage of this loophole. It needs eliminated.

I suppose that you have statistics to back up your statement that scooter riders are a hazard.

Stats would not be accurate, even if they were kept, for these undocumented road hazards.

 

[Dr.Midnight]

I suppose that you have statistics to back up your statement that scooter riders are a hazard.

I don't know that the scooters themselves are a hazard, it's more of the people who are driving them. Let's be real here. The majority of folks you see on scooters aren't on their way to the lab to knock out this cancer problem we have.

 

[churchmouse]

I suppose that you have statistics to back up your statement that scooter riders are a hazard.

Aw gee mike.....they are man, they just are.

This weekend there were 2 idiots (teens) flying around the area on a scooter. We were in the front yard and say them cut across traffic to make a left onto a side street and almost get smacked by a car that had to lock up to keep from ending those 2 idiots. Not 10 minutes later my son called me from down the street. They had wiped out and were both tore up pretty good. The scooter was under a car in the other lane.

Not all of them are idiots but they can not even achieve the speed limit on a 35 MPH road. They impede traffic, carry no insurance, do not contribute to the system as in plates/license etc as we have to. They suck and need to go away unless properly plated/insured. Period.

 

[Hotdoger]

On 31 south of Franklin several weeks ago saw one stopped by the POPO. Guy had a little girl riding with him with her bicycle helmet on.

What an idiot.

 

[BE Mike]

Aw gee mike.....they are man, they just are.

This weekend there were 2 idiots (teens) flying around the area on a scooter. We were in the front yard and say them cut across traffic to make a left onto a side street and almost get smacked by a car that had to lock up to keep from ending those 2 idiots. Not 10 minutes later my son called me from down the street. They had wiped out and were both tore up pretty good. The scooter was under a car in the other lane.

Not all of them are idiots but they can not even achieve the speed limit on a 35 MPH road. They impede traffic, carry no insurance, do not contribute to the system as in plates/license etc as we have to. They suck and need to go away unless properly plated/insured. Period.

I am not a big fan of new laws, especially when they have no facts to back up their necessity and, most of all, when they include new taxes. We'll just have to agree to disagree. The state legislature agrees with you and has decided the fate of the scooters through legislation.

 

[schafe]

What's with these scooters nowadays, anyway? In high school, (a loooong time ago) I had a 49cc scooter. It was a two stroke 3 speed manual transmission bike that would smoke the current generation of 50's. I could do 45 mph easily and over 50mph downhill. I went everywhere on that thing, and learned that I wanted to never be without a motorized two wheel vehicle again, and never have. It was a great intro to the world of motorcycling !!!

 

[hoosierdoc]

Saw a scooter driver yesterday with an injury. Said he had a 50cc engine. I said 50 or 49? He smiled and said 49. Nice guy. Had the scooter since he couldn't afford to fix his car. Fills up once a week for $3 and gets 60mpg. Awesome.
he was aware of the new law coming too.

 

[churchmouse]

I am not a big fan of new laws, especially when they have no facts to back up their necessity and, most of all, when they include new taxes. We'll just have to agree to disagree. The state legislature agrees with you and has decided the fate of the scooters through legislation.

I see your point and not knocking you for it.

My issue is they are out there among us on the roads. We have to pay to use the roads. We pay a lot when you add it all up. They pay.....wait for it...."Nadda"...."Nothing"
I have had incident with a moped in the past and it was terrible. Seeing an injured kid, my insurance getting pressed for medical etc and dealing with the childs parents....terrible. The kid hit me. No fault of mine but the kid was out on the streets actin a fool. I hate the damn things.

I do not want new law just have them follow existing DMV rules and regulations.

 

[HoughMade]

Saw a scooter driver yesterday with an injury. Said he had a 50cc engine. I said 50 or 49? He smiled and said 49....

Indiana law is "may not be more than 50ccs"....meaning 50ccs is just fine.

 

[JettaKnight]

On 31 south of Franklin several weeks ago saw one stopped by the POPO. Guy had a little girl riding with him with her bicycle helmet on.

What an idiot.

That reminds me of a story.

I was driving home and saw a baby's car seat on the curb with some trash. IDEA! I snagged it and cable strapped it the chrome rack on the back of my scooter. Drove around for a week with that.

The thing is, no one seemed to notice or care. I expected looks of disgust or horns or something. But nothing; it was like I was invisible. The only people to really notice was the "gang" of sportbike squid at the gas station that thought it was hilarious. I tend to ride "professionally"; FF helmet, matching jacket, whitewall tires, etc. so maybe everyone new it was for shtick.