U.S. Federal law regarding sale & use of motorized vehicles.

[timmyP]

I don't know the details but President Bush signed into law a bill that rendefines the manufacture, sale and use of anything with a gasoline powered engine on it. just before he left office. The American Motorcycle Assn was furious. Apparrently thier lobyist got caught sleeping on the job and couldn't muster up enough resistance to slow it down and the next thing they knew. Bush had signed it into law. It's original intent was to stop the production and sale of things like gas powered skateboards, pocket bikes, mini choppers, etc to childern. But it is being interepted in all kinds of ways by the different States. For example there is basically no difference between a motorbike and a moped and a moped and a motorcycle in Texas anymore There is another post here that makes reference to how the new laws are being interpreted in TX. There is such a fine line between the three types motorbike, moped, motorcycle if you don't comply with the motorcycle requirements you are at great risk fora ticket and heafty fines that can effect your auto driving priviledges( and insurance cost

 

[timmyP]

In Texas a Whizzer is a motorcycle, and a bicycle with a 48cc engine on it is a moped. And now Mopeds have to be registered, they have to have a safety inspection, you have to have liability insurance on it and you must have health insurance on the driverand you have to have proof of this on your person if you are stopped. You must also have a motorcycle endorsement on your drivers license or risk getting ticketed for that also. You cannot operate a moped if you are under age 15even then you must have a special license (a moped liscense) it automatically converts to a motorcycle license when the person turns 16. If you have never had a teenager in your home, just try to buy liability insurance on anything with a motor on it for a 15 year old boy !

 

[Mountainman]

kind of funny -- but -- not too funny
Calif known to be home to many many added laws
treats motorized bicycles as a good THING

one for Calif
as we go broke !!
at least if and when we do go broke and can not afford to drive cars
we are set up right regarding MB's
MM

 

[HoughMade]

I could be wrong...happens every day, but this does not sound correct. Who told you this and where can I see this law?

The CPSC and NHSTA have regulations about equipment, that is, if they equipment is present, it caan be sold. However, states can usually decide whether to use those as their rules or have less onerous rules. My state does not use the federal standards for motorcycles and mopeds. Each state generally decided what can operate on its roads under what circumstances.

I am aware of a lead content regulation that seems to outlaw motorized conveyances with lead (all of them) that are marketted to minors, but nothing beyond that.

 

[bamabikeguy]

Motor-ASSISTED bicycle.

Memorize those words !!

Challenge a moped to an "engine off- pedals only" race.......

 

[HoughMade]

Still varies state to state. Presence or absence of pedals means nothing here.

 

[pdxrhett]

According to Jerry it means something in oregon (pedals), but according to a police officer who stopped me after my tail light fell off, as long as it is under 50cc, you don't even need a license (I also read this in a newspaper awhile ago). All that is required is that you are 16 or older and you must carry proof of this.

All that's needed on anything motorized in oregon is headlight, taillight (doesn't even have to be a brake light on a bicycle), and some type of turn signals. Turn signals could be lights, or your arms (left arm up for turning right, left arm to the side for turning left, left arm down for stopping (in emergencies))

 

[timmyP]

There are some references to parts of it on the AMA web site. They comment on the fact that it has a lot to do with things being built and marketed to the under 12 year old age group.NHSTA has apparrently bowedto some external preasure and has basically agreed not enforce all parts of the law for some time.


The reason I mentioned it was the fact that I was told that it was being loosely interpreted by a number of States and that the fact that motorized biking is getting more complicated by the day and it seems like some States will use any excuse it can to add more restrictive laws to the books.. In Texas there has been several changes in the laws that regulate the use of a motorbike this past year. The things regarding Texas I mentioned in the original post. I was reading directly from the new code as I typed it in

 

[Just_Gasit]

I think what it comes down to is taxes and that depends on both local and state policies regarding motorized bikes. In our current economy, we may get a little slack here and there and the laws on converted bicycles confuse the LE officers. I say pedal it often even if it's just going through the motions and if you have a reasonable amount of time, kill it and pedal, I bet they won't even notice the motor on your bike. I'm sure many officers seeing older expirenced people riding won't give it a second thought. Under aged kids all over the road doing laps, making noise and ****ing off cagers will be much more of a concern. We as MB'ers are paying gas taxes and if you think about it, we do have some rights to be using the roads, more so than a regular bicyclist if you really think about it. I'm not bagging on those without engines but they are free loaders on the road tax system. I'm going to do my best to keep it slow, quiet and in the gray area of the law best I can.

 

[Happy Valley]

If MBs ever become numerous enough, cash strapped states will see a perceived revenue source to legislate for.

The only cyclists who could be deemed freeloaders are children, God help us there. Most regular cyclists own a car and pay gas tax or use transportation that does. As far as "road tax", we all pay plenty whether we own a car or not.