OC Bikefest 2024 : We Got Pulled Over - Scooter Law Issues
Sept 17, 2023 8:53:39 GMT -5
190mech, ryan_ott, and 4 more like this
Post by 90GTVert on Sept 17, 2023 8:53:39 GMT -5
ryan_ott came down for OC Bikefest yesterday. He came to my house and my sport bike friend (Mak) came out too. Ryan and I loaded the scoots in the truck and Mak followed us down to the beach. We couldn't have had a nicer day as far as weather. Mid to upper 70s and sunny with a breeze.
We rode a couple of laps around town just riding with traffic instead of in the bus lane, because big bikes can't ride in the bus lane. We had 2 scoots and the sport bike all leaving Harleys at a few lights. Pretty fun. Mak tried to play with a couple of other sport bikes, but they didn't really do anything. While sitting in traffic, some older guy told me that we were the noisiest things around. I said "Thanks!" and we both laughed as he rolled his window up to escape the noise. I repacked my silencer prior to the show and I think I packed it too tight because it's pretty loud.
Ryan tried to drift the MetRuck leaving right turn at a light. Luckily we had stopped at a bathroom not much before this. Not sure that it looks bad in a screenshot, but he definitely fish-tailed a bit.
Mak headed home and Ryan and I started riding like normal in the bus lane where one is present. A few kids ran right out in front of us. Again, probably doesn't look bad in the pic, but the lead guy was running full speed and it was looking like we were about to have a problem. Ryan thinks he was looking at cars behind us and didn't notice us till the last second. Luckily he stopped a few feet shy.
We were cruising in the bus lane, not really doing anything too bad, and a MD State Trooper passed me and pulled Ryan over. I was thinking about going up a few streets to not potentially get myself in trouble too, but didn't feel right about it so I took my chances and followed them.
The reason for the stop was that Ryan has MC (motorcycle) plates from PA. That's what they get up there, even for a scoot. Ryan knows much more about the specifics, but my understanding is that's normal for a scooter in PA. Here in MD, scooters have an ORV (off road vehicle) sticker. In MD, scooters 50cc and under are supposed to ride in the far right lane and not go over 30MPH. In Ocean City, the far right lane is the bus/bike lane. That's why I can ride around OC and be at the front of pretty much every red light and beat other traffic. In other places it just means I'm supposed to be on the shoulder.
So, the officer says he knows that Ryan was in the bus lane for at least 8 blocks and he can't do that with a motorcycle. Our argument is that it is a scooter, regardless of MC tags from PA. I think it was actually good that I did stop with him, because the cop looked at both scoots and realized that they are essentially the same thing. The situation confused the officer, because you've got the same sort of bikes and two totally different riding requirements based solely on how the states choose to tag them.
He said I have to ride in the bus lane and Ryan has to ride with traffic. Ryan asked what is best then, since we were riding together. Should we both ride in traffic or both in the bus lane. He said basically, well... I can't do over 30MPH so both of us in the bus lane at 30MPH or less would be the better choice in his eyes. He gave Ryan a warning, but also made a note on it so if anyone else tried to pull him/us over for that, we'd be OK to ride that way for the night.
The officer was polite and friendly, but just not really sure of what to do... understandably when looking at the laws. Most OC cops are so used to seeing scoots ride all over the place that I don't think they really care and they just see 2 scoots in the bus lane and don't think anything of it, regardless of PA plates. They've never hassled me over being in traffic with ORV plates there either. Never had a problem with other troopers or sheriffs either, but I think this guy was just trying to do his job and it looked wrong to him. I appreciate that they do enforce keeping people out of the bus lane because I've had motorcycles and cars ride there to beat traffic and irritate me many times.
We wound up calling it quits after that, because the cop also noted that we were "cooking" and said to keep it slow and not draw attention to ourselves for the rest of the night. Well, that's not gonna happen and we thought it best not to push our luck and stopped after that.
We did move up where there's more action than our parking spot and spectate for a few. It is pretty wild from the sidewalk. So much noise. It's a constant blend of very loud pipes and very obnoxious stereos.
Overall, I had fun. No one got hurt or in trouble. Beautiful day. Good company. Good times.
We rode a couple of laps around town just riding with traffic instead of in the bus lane, because big bikes can't ride in the bus lane. We had 2 scoots and the sport bike all leaving Harleys at a few lights. Pretty fun. Mak tried to play with a couple of other sport bikes, but they didn't really do anything. While sitting in traffic, some older guy told me that we were the noisiest things around. I said "Thanks!" and we both laughed as he rolled his window up to escape the noise. I repacked my silencer prior to the show and I think I packed it too tight because it's pretty loud.
Ryan tried to drift the MetRuck leaving right turn at a light. Luckily we had stopped at a bathroom not much before this. Not sure that it looks bad in a screenshot, but he definitely fish-tailed a bit.
Mak headed home and Ryan and I started riding like normal in the bus lane where one is present. A few kids ran right out in front of us. Again, probably doesn't look bad in the pic, but the lead guy was running full speed and it was looking like we were about to have a problem. Ryan thinks he was looking at cars behind us and didn't notice us till the last second. Luckily he stopped a few feet shy.
We were cruising in the bus lane, not really doing anything too bad, and a MD State Trooper passed me and pulled Ryan over. I was thinking about going up a few streets to not potentially get myself in trouble too, but didn't feel right about it so I took my chances and followed them.
The reason for the stop was that Ryan has MC (motorcycle) plates from PA. That's what they get up there, even for a scoot. Ryan knows much more about the specifics, but my understanding is that's normal for a scooter in PA. Here in MD, scooters have an ORV (off road vehicle) sticker. In MD, scooters 50cc and under are supposed to ride in the far right lane and not go over 30MPH. In Ocean City, the far right lane is the bus/bike lane. That's why I can ride around OC and be at the front of pretty much every red light and beat other traffic. In other places it just means I'm supposed to be on the shoulder.
So, the officer says he knows that Ryan was in the bus lane for at least 8 blocks and he can't do that with a motorcycle. Our argument is that it is a scooter, regardless of MC tags from PA. I think it was actually good that I did stop with him, because the cop looked at both scoots and realized that they are essentially the same thing. The situation confused the officer, because you've got the same sort of bikes and two totally different riding requirements based solely on how the states choose to tag them.
He said I have to ride in the bus lane and Ryan has to ride with traffic. Ryan asked what is best then, since we were riding together. Should we both ride in traffic or both in the bus lane. He said basically, well... I can't do over 30MPH so both of us in the bus lane at 30MPH or less would be the better choice in his eyes. He gave Ryan a warning, but also made a note on it so if anyone else tried to pull him/us over for that, we'd be OK to ride that way for the night.
The officer was polite and friendly, but just not really sure of what to do... understandably when looking at the laws. Most OC cops are so used to seeing scoots ride all over the place that I don't think they really care and they just see 2 scoots in the bus lane and don't think anything of it, regardless of PA plates. They've never hassled me over being in traffic with ORV plates there either. Never had a problem with other troopers or sheriffs either, but I think this guy was just trying to do his job and it looked wrong to him. I appreciate that they do enforce keeping people out of the bus lane because I've had motorcycles and cars ride there to beat traffic and irritate me many times.
We wound up calling it quits after that, because the cop also noted that we were "cooking" and said to keep it slow and not draw attention to ourselves for the rest of the night. Well, that's not gonna happen and we thought it best not to push our luck and stopped after that.
We did move up where there's more action than our parking spot and spectate for a few. It is pretty wild from the sidewalk. So much noise. It's a constant blend of very loud pipes and very obnoxious stereos.
Overall, I had fun. No one got hurt or in trouble. Beautiful day. Good company. Good times.
