Confused in Michigan ?

[redpiper777]

Hi there. I went to the S.O.S. just the other day and I spoke with the guy in charge of that particular office...I aksed about a moped sticker for my bike and he said and I quote "The Secretary of State of the state of Michigan does not regulate "Motorized Bicycles" and that I should contact a Michigan state police officer and ask him what to do....I then asked him what if I get pulled over? What is going to happen? He said and I quote again " I guess it's up to the officer that pulls you over"... This is totally INSANE !!!! whats the truth here ? Can it be that wide open that a cop can instatly dictate law and write me a ticket???? Any help would be cool....

 

[HoughMade]

No policeman can dictate what the law is and no bureaucrat has a corner on registration issues. Try another SOS office.

 

[Mountainman]

yes -- most states have a main office
here in Calif it takes about 5 min on phone to get through
explain exactly to them what you have in the way of a motorized bicycle
they should be able to help you
with (((should))) being the key work

in your state DMV book regarding motorcycles -- does it not mention motorized bicycles ??

as we ride those things

 

[bluegoatwoods]

Here's my interpretation;

The Sec of State guy was telling you that they have no way of registering this bike. (easy to believe)

A cop might decide that you are riding an illegal moped and ticket you. The good news is that it doesn't seem to happen very often. You'll have no choice but to challenge the ticket and argue before the judge that this is nothing more than a bicycle. You might even win.

I wouldn't even bother asking the police. I'd give 100 to 1 odds that their answer will be "no".

 

[Mountainman]

some of those DMV sites are confusing to me
but just for the heck of it I went to your site -- Michigan DMV
didn't stay there very long -- question -- have you been there ?

I did find out that a motor cycle in your state is

more than 2.0 HP and goes greater than 30 MPH

so what do they call someTHING less than that ? a motorized bicycle ??

MM

 

[HoughMade]

According to the accounts I've seen here ans elsewhere, many people have gotten their "moped" sticker in Michigan. If you can get it, ends the hassles, like I said, try another SOS office.

I used to run a used car lot in GR- the variations between the SOS offices was amazing.

 

[redpiper777]

O.K. there are some pretty suggestions and I'll be sure to check them out....Going to the SOS is always such a pain in the a** but I guess its worth not getting a ticket or several of them for that matter...Thanks alot everybody....I would think that the East Lansing office would know because there is a huge number of mopeds on the campus of MSU and the police and parking nazi's do check them for tags all the time !

 

[Mountainman]

not mopeds

I would think that the East Lansing office would know because there is a huge number of mopeds on the campus of MSU and the police and parking nazi's do check them for tags all the time !

not mopeds though
I wouldn't want to compare in any way to a moped
that would require almost everyTHING in the way of
lights, horn, tags on plate -- on and on

hopefully you can get someone to realize that you have a

motorized bicycle -- to be treated as a bicycle...

MM

 

[HoughMade]

Won't work. In Michigan, if it has an engine, it must be registered. As I said, many MBers in Michigan have gotten the moped sticker- not a problem. Not all states require full lights, etc. to register as a moped.

 

[Member 5549]

here in Texas bikes under 50cc are Legal
But Local Law enforcement has the right to say " not in my town "
So why do we even need state goverment ????
But the LEO's around dont hassle M/B riders becuse there is I think 3 in my area .
and they dont see responsible riders as a problem.
I think maybe if there were 300 riders than it might be a different story.