Massachusetts Moped Law Changes

HseLoMein

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To all the m*******s out there. There have been changed in the law regarding mopeds. It really applies to mopeds that go over 30. It will a[pply to me once i get the jackshaft installed.

Mopeds
The same legislation will also bring about significant changes for many a moped owner.

First, it will allow the Registry to issue, for the first time, license plates for mopeds that can travel faster than 30 miles per hour. A large number of mopeds fit this description, including several Vespa models.

Without license plates, police have been hard-pressed to tag moped operators for moving violations and parking offenses. (Mopeds are currently identified by small inspection stickers, which few pay attention to.)

The Registry would also have the authority to require moped operators to insure their vehicles. Alas, while such a requirement would hold moped drivers more accountable, it will also make driving a moped, a cost-efficient solution for urban commuters, more expensive.

The legislation, however, is not without benefit. Lots of mopeds can achieve speeds of 40 miles per hour, but under current laws, it's illegal to go faster than 25 miles per hour. The new legislation allows speeds of up to 40 miles per hour.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/ma...18/stay_alert_for_some_new_rules_of_the_road/
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/185/st02/st02898.htm

I already called my insurace comapny, and they are willing to insure it. I didnt ask for price yet cause the new law takes effect in end of july
.
 
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Hmmmm....he said.....Hmmmm insurance.

Will that mean inspections too?

Just thinking aloud here but having a built-in distrust of politicians I hate to see when they start mucking around changing laws.

The thing that has always been on my mind is the line in current MA RMV moped law that says:
*Comply with all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards.

http://www.mass.gov/rmv/license/7moped.htm

Federal means DOT and DOT means full lighting array and speed rated tires.
Ever look for DOT speed rated tires for a bicycle?

Might be OK for you Whizzer guys Ray but might be bad for home-built MBs.
 
I wish they had spped rated tires for bicycles, i am in the process of getting it as close to DOT standards as possible. My alternator and lights just came in today :)
 
First, it will allow the Registry to issue, for the first time, license plates for mopeds that can travel faster than 30 miles per hour. A large number of mopeds fit this description, including several Vespa models.

The Registry would also have the authority to require moped operators to insure their vehicles. Alas, while such a requirement would hold moped drivers more accountable, it will also make driving a moped, a cost-efficient solution for urban commuters, more expensive.

People read, read, read this new law! This new law does not change or amend any existing regulations for motorized bicycles/mopeds in MA.

The author Peter DeMarco who wrote the article in boston.com states "it will allow the Registry to issue, for the first time, license plates for MOPEDS that can travel faster than 30 miles per hour". First off, A moped that can travel faster than 30 miles per hour under current MA law is classified a Motorcycle, and is required to be registered and insured as such.

He also states "The Registry would also have the authority to require MOPED operators to insure their vehicles". I can find no such wording in the new law.

In both of his statements, I believe he is confusing "mopeds" with "4-wheeled & 3-wheeled low-speed vehicles" which this new law does address.
 
The thing that has always been on my mind is the line in current MA RMV moped law that says:
*Comply with all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards.

http://www.mass.gov/rmv/license/7moped.htm

Federal means DOT and DOT means full lighting array and speed rated tires.
Ever look for DOT speed rated tires for a bicycle?

The "federal motor vehicle safety standards" has standards for each class of motor vehicle. (trucks, cars, trailers, motorcycles, ect.) Each standard is numbered, and at the end of each standard, there is a list of the VEHICLES TO WHICH THAT PARTICULAR STANDARD PERTAINS TO. None of the standards address motorized bicycles or mopeds.

In 1977, when the moped boom was going strong, the Federal Vehicle Equipment Safety Commission (http://www.vesc.org/) realized that MOPEDS WERE NOT LISTED IN THE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS, and passed VESC V-17. This FEDERAL regulation outlines Minimum Requirements for Construction and Equipment of Mopeds and is not part of the federal motor vehicle safety standards.

http://www.vesc.org/Media/VESC V-17, Construction and Equipment of Mopeds.pdf

Technically, MA does not cite this regulation as being required to comply with on the moped application; It only lists the "federal motor vehicle safety standards" which has no applicable standards for mopeds. However I would comply with VESC V-17 as federal law supercedes state law.

BTW, VESC V-17 does not require DOT speed rated tires on mopeds but there are size restrictions.
 
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People read, read, read this new law! This new law does not change or amend any existing regulations for motorized bicycles/mopeds in MA.

The author Peter DeMarco who wrote the article in boston.com states "it will allow the Registry to issue, for the first time, license plates for MOPEDS that can travel faster than 30 miles per hour". First off, A moped that can travel faster than 30 miles per hour under current MA law is classified a Motorcycle, and is required to be registered and insured as such.

He also states "The Registry would also have the authority to require MOPED operators to insure their vehicles". I can find no such wording in the new law.

In both of his statements, I believe he is confusing "mopeds" with "4-wheeled & 3-wheeled low-speed vehicles" which this new law does address.

Very good tsal, thanks for the input and citations, I'll bookmark them for further reading.

In the reply above, your highlighting of Moped seems you want to make clear a distinction. What's your take on the difference between mopeds and MBs? To me this is a gray area. Forgive me for being dense but MBs presently seem to fall under current moped law and definition. http://www.mass.gov/rmv/license/7moped.htm

The “federal motor vehicle safety standards” has standards for each class of motor vehicle. (trucks, cars, trailers, motorcycles, ect.) Each standard is numbered, and at the end of each standard, there is a list of the VEHICLES TO WHICH THAT PARTICULAR STANDARD PERTAINS TO. None of the standards address motorized bicycles or mopeds.

In 1977, when the moped boom was going strong, the Federal Vehicle Equipment Safety Commission (http://www.vesc.org/) realized that MOPEDS WERE NOT LISTED IN THE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS, and passed VESC V-17. This FEDERAL regulation outlines Minimum Requirements for Construction and Equipment of Mopeds and is not part of the federal motor vehicle safety standards.

http://www.vesc.org/Media/VESC V-17, Construction and Equipment of Mopeds.pdf

Technically, MA does not cite this regulation as being required to comply with on the moped application; It only lists the “federal motor vehicle safety standards” which has no applicable standards for mopeds. However I would comply with VESC V-17 as federal law supercedes state law.

BTW, VESC V-17 does not require DOT speed rated tires on mopeds but there are size restrictions.

Interesting. So from first glance, some issues pertinent to MBs are a full motorcycle lighting and signal array, mirror, horn, chain guard.......

and brakes. That one looks tricky. Thoughts?
http://www.vesc.org/Media/VESC V-11...on and Equipment of Motorcycles--OUTDATED.pdf

Are we to suppose that a limited top speed will be the determining factor in placing MBs outside the reach of further legislation?
 
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