LAW IN MN - Did you know that?

MN Bicycle Laws

have been messed up for years,

Thanks for heads-up.

Frankly, am not going to worry about them. I ride with belt off most of the time, but when I am running hot, I have headlight, off, and ride where I want. No one seems to care. Not being a pain nor in the way and quite making sure no one is bothered. In a phrase, I do not hot-rod around, which is really the cause of most odd laws.

Next time I am down at license bureau, will ask about the permit, but not going to worry about it until then.

Will read the law in detail later. All they want is money...
 
okay so the most recent law

Alright so that previous post was a legislative research in 2004 of the then current state and here is the current motorized bicycle law. TO me this tells me that no registration is possible since they canceled the bicycle registration program and it seems pretty straight forward, eye protection is the only requirement over 18 and only on roads for the most part. However the lighting for night operation has to be motorcycle worthy.

Motorized bicycle -

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=169.223&year=2009

Lighting ( only at night)-

After persueing the different referances that is not as clear.

In the end though there is a specific section about using the motorized bike and it doesn't have to be registered though you do have to have a license.
 
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the relevant law about lights ( only if needed at night)

In the statute about Motorized Bicycles it says-

Subdivision 1.Safety equipment; parking.Except as otherwise provided in this section, section 169.974 relating to motorcycles is applicable to motorized bicycles

and

(2) a motorized bicycle equipped with a headlight and taillight meeting the requirements of lighting for motorcycles may be operated during nighttime hours;

Subd. 4.Headlight requirement.The provisions of section 169.974, subdivision 5, paragraph (i), apply to motorized bicycles that are equipped with headlights. After June 1, 1987, a new motorized bicycle sold or offered for sale in Minnesota must be equipped with a headlight.


So basically if you want to run at night it must be a headlight and tail corresponding to the provision of section 169.974 subdivision 5 paragraph(i)


that provision states-

No person shall operate a motorcycle on a street or highway unless the headlight or headlights are lighted at all times the motorcycle is so operated.

So in my mind if you rolled with a lamp and tail light that stay on at all times for night riding you are good...

If I was rolling just in my hometown (st paul) then I would keep the two laws refering to each other and you should be all good. Now someone could make the argument that it has to have highs and lows and all that, but my position would be if that is what they ment then the refered to statute would state that as a requirement. Furthermore it is not required for a motorcycle to have blinkers anyway.

To wrap up, we are lucky.

We have a specific statute that states that no registration is required for a motorized bicycle under 50cc gas or electric. That means we can have gears.
("Motorized bicycle" means a bicycle that is propelled by an electric or a liquid fuel motor of a piston displacement capacity of 50 cubic centimeters or less, and a maximum of two brake horsepower, which is capable of a maximum speed of not more than 30 miles per hour on a flat surface with not more than one percent grade in any direction when the motor is engaged. "Motorized bicycle" includes an electric-assisted bicycle as defined in subdivision 27.
)


If you are over 18 then you have to wear eye protection,operate on public roads up to 30mph, if you want to run at night you have to have a head and tail light that is always on. ( someone may try to say it has to be as good as a motorcycle but I would want to see some proof of that in the legislation.I if they wanted brake lights and turn signals they would have stated that. Instead of refering to the always on provision)

my 2cents along with the links. Too bad I take my bike traveling and so I can't be as sure in other states. NOw if I could register it then I could go to other states and say well it is registered but I can't and at this point the less they get involved the better. THe whole point is keeping costs down. I like electric but without compitition the prices are gonna stay too high and i am on my third controller on my electric bike cause the water screws it up. Gas is more reliable.
 
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These laws are downright confusing.

So is it still required to register, insure, have plates on, etc a <50cc motorized bike? Cause that would mean that no motorized bike, no matter the size can be operated without jumping through all those hoops.

Is that right? Do all you MN riders have all that going on, or do most of you find that it's not a problem to ride without that stuff if you are minding your own business?
 
Motored Bike in MN

I do not pay attention to the laws and I doubt most common sense police departments do, as the regulations are in flux.

If they go off the deep end as some states have, I will sell the rig.

Our legislators are smart like tractor...they have no clue so s...w 'em.
 
GEBE in MN

In fact, you are interested, check it out.
 

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Mororized MN Vehicle

At the time of his arrest, that bike was a manufactured Yamaha Moped, and considered a motorized vehicle.

As I recall, it was not really called a bicycle or motorized bicycle. That statute was based on engine cc, I believe. Regardless, the machine came under the umbrella of that statute. Moreover, this consent issue trumped the vehicle class issue, it seems and the argument of irrelevant evidence being disallowed was the crux of the matter.


To wit:
The department of public safety information indicated that the vehicle was a "minibike," but it did not indicate anything about the size or power of the vehicle's engine, the brake horsepower, how fast it could go, or the diameter of the wheels.

Defense counsel's cross-examination of Officer Crary laid the groundwork for an argument that the officer was not a credible witness regarding statutory licensing requirements, the proper statutory classification of the Yamaha, or whether a license was necessary to operate the vehicle. We appreciate that additional questioning to establish that, under the statutory definition, a motorized foot scooter may be self propelled might have given the jury further reason to question the reliability and accuracy of Officer Crary's testimony. But the district court reasonably perceived these questions as irrelevant, explaining that there was "no evidence" that Lichtenberg was operating a foot scooter.


Thanks for the information.

Actually, these are the bozos who screw it up for the rest of us.

As to motored bikes here, the issue remains unclear. In my case, if I was under the influence, I would remove the belt and pedal home, fearless but careful.
 
Actually, in most states pedalling home would be a bad idea. You can get a DUI on a bicycle....or horse......or lawn mower etc etc. Dumb...yeah. About 3 years ago a friend and his wife went out and got a bit too tipsy. They decided to walk home about 6 blocks. The police were watching their car, and after they had walked about 2 blocks past it, they were arrested.....for DUI. The justification was that they left the keys in the car, and *get this* they *could have walked back and picked it up after they went home*. Not only that....it stuck. Now that's dumb.
 
MN Bicycle Laws

If that were the case here, I would be wary, but in MN, bicycles not "motorized" seem to be exempt. Locally, we have had one or two arrests for people on bikes, with no DUI charges, as I recall. One guy ran into a home and was found in yard, next to bike...disorderly.

As expected, states differ.
 

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