Pulled over on my scoot

[Tweak09]

Mar 16, 2012 21:02:11 GMT -5 2strokd said:

lol go to Clinton County then. You can register,plate and insure your 49cc scoot there. Its the law in that county. Even ride through Frankfort IN and you will get stopped if you dont have plates.BS huh?

Haha! I'm happy here in Floyd County. Sadly though going anywhere around here your riding through different counties which all have different looks on the law. I go through Clark and Floyd daily. I live right on the border of both counties. Hardly ever have issues with Floyd county guys but man Clark just pushes it to the extreme! I almost always stay on back roads and never go over 25-30. I was pulled over once for doing 40 but I told the officer it was unsafe for me to drive at a speed that low on the road I was crossing.

I seen someone had posted something like this once, think it might have been Brent. Anyways I get kind of nervous at times riding around. I shouldn't feel that way but that's life. With warmer weather coming its going to get worse also. I had no issues on the road this winter. 3 days of nice weather and I've been stopped twice already.

[2strokd]

It is like that from county to county..

Problem with showing a Clinton County PO my ID is, by that time im already pulled over. By then its already gone too far.


Yeah!! Suck it Clinton County

[aeroxbud]

The law is crazy anyway. in this country your restricted to 30 mph and it is so dangerous driving round at that speed. cars cut you up and try anything to get in front. I just stick to the 30 and 40 mph posted limits, but even then cars must get past you .I have never been pulled over riding a scooter, Which is a suprise as most are riden in this country on "L" plates and i dont have any.

[teddy554]

Are Virginia law are not to bad no dl required and the scooter cant go over 35mph and the seat cant be over 24 in from the middle. i only now one person that has been pulled over and he is constantly drunk and our city is loaded with scooters. Staunton va (knock on wood) they pay no attention to us

[larry001964]

What's truly scary in Indiana is there are so many different variations on the law from county to county.
Here's the law as I understand it.

From the "Fort Wayne Police Department's" website

Indiana Moped and Scooter Laws

The following information is being provided by the Fort Wayne Police Department. While not all laws are covered with regards to motorized bicycles, commonly known as "mopeds", those directly related to mopeds have been included. Any violation(s) could cause the operator to encounter criminal and/ or civil liability. These have been explained in a simple manner.

Indiana Code I.C. 9-21-11-12 Restricitons on operation of mopeds-In order to operate a moped, you must:
(1) Be at least 15 years old;
(a)Those under 18 years old (I.C. 9-21-11-13) must:
(i) Wear protective headgear;
(ii) Wear eye protection, i.e. goggles, glasses, faceshield, etc.
(2)Have with you a state issued drivers license or I.D. card;
(3)You cannot drive on an interstate highway or sidewalk;
(4) You cannot drive over 25 miles per hour

Other rules of the road
It is important to understand that depending on certain factors, your "scooter" may be considered a motorcycle. If this is the case, then you will have to obey those laws pertaining to motorcycles. The following definitions apply.

(1)Moped-a 2 or 3 wheeled vehicle powered by an engine or electric motor. If it is
powered by an engine:
(a)It must not have a rating or more than 2 HP (horsepower);
(b)It must not be more than 50cc (cubic centimeter)
(c)It must have an automatic transmission;
(d)It must be intended not to exceed 25MPH by design;
(e)This does not apply to electric personal assistive mobility devices.
(f) It may be driven by no more than 2 side by side in a single lane;
(g)Intended for 1 occupant (the driver);
(h) Has both pedals and a motor or engine.

(2) Scooter-a vehicle that has the following:
(a)Motive power (engine or motor);
(b)A seat, but not a saddle for the driver;
(c)Two wheels;
(d)A floorpad for the drivers feet (floorboard);
(e)Intended for 1 occupant (the driver)

When a scooter is considered a moped
(1)When it is rated at 2HP or less; and
(2)When is has 50cc or less; and
(3)When the designed speed is not greater than 25MPH

When a scooter is considered a motorcycle
(1)When it is rated at more than 2HP; and
(2)When it has more than 50cc; and
(3)When the designed speed is greater than 25MPH.

(f) If this is the case in the latter example, then it is considered a motorcycle
(i) Drivers and passengers under 18 must wear head and eye protection;
(ii) Drivers must have with them a valid motorcycle endorsement or
motorcycle learners permit;
(iii) The vehicle must be registered (license plates) and insured;
(iv)All other motor vehicle laws apply;
(v) It may be driven by no more than 2 side by side in a single lane.

(3)Motorcycle-a motor vehicle with motive power, with a seat or saddle, with no more than 3 wheels in contact with the roadway, but does not include farm tractors or motorized bicycles.

The Fort Wayne Police Department would like to remind you to stay safe while operating any of these vehicles and remember, while you may see other drivers, they may not see you!

[Goosey]

That 25mph part is pretty harsh. Even restricted, scooters are just not designed to go that slow, 50cc or whatever. Motorized bicycle maybe. A bit dated? Definately not realistic.

[larry001964]

Mar 17, 2012 17:38:42 GMT -5 Goosey said:

That 25mph part is pretty harsh. Even restricted, scooters are just not designed to go that slow, 50cc or whatever. Motorized bicycle maybe. A bit dated? Definately not realistic.

Well this is why little towns like New Haven, virtually connected to Fort Wayne instituted a 250 dollar fine for speeding, but I believe it's state wide now.. It used to be based on how many miles over the speed limit you were. But now 1 mile or 20 makes no difference it's 250 dollars plus court cost...

It used to be that being 5 miles over the speed limit just didn't pay them to enforce ( Unless it was dangerous in some fashion ).. But now cash starved little or larger towns can see this as a way of making income.. Indiana is fully aware that these scooters are faster than 25, that's IMHO why it's so low.. It's all a money game...

And I personally know guys that were pulled over in New Haven for doing 29 mph, the speed limit on this road for cars was 45 MPH.. New Haven just wanted that 250 dollar fine, and if that poor person didn't have a license then they also hit them for driving while suspended, driving with no insurance, driving with no tags... More and More money.. Before the law change they didn't care, but now it pays their salary's to care...

[lauriejennifer]

It's such BS. This is one of the benefits of living in a higher crime area AND knowing many of the local law enforcement. I never endanger myself or others, but I will admit to putting safety above letter-of-the-law.

I have more than once come across a speed trap on my supermoto only to have the cops lower their radar gun and do one (or a few) of the following:
-look down/away and pretend not to see me
-give me a thumbs up and a grin
-smirk, shake their head, and give me the "slow down" sign


I have gotten it on camera, but it never comes out clearly and doesn't seem like the sort of thing to post.

Anyway, after I pass, they raise the radar again and resume clocking the cars behind me. Heh.

Maybe it's because I'm a girl? Or maybe cops are just cool about it and recognize the difference between a bike going a bit faster than the limit (actually safer) and a cager who is barreling recklessly down the road, endangering anyone in their path?


They have real crime to deal with, too. And on my scooter I just get grins and thumbs up. Friendly conversation, at most. But, again, I know most of the local cops, too. They know I work at the local dealership and am a contributing member to the community. I'll even chit chat with them if I see them at the local coffee shop. Reasonable, fun guys.

They let the most slide downtown KC, especially the seedy parts of south KCMO. Generally, you will only see someone pulled over if it is followed by a search of their vehicle while they sit on the curb in handcuffs.

[larry001964]

Just the way it is in Indiana, they will let the unlicensed person drive one, but if you go over 25, your busted just as if you were driving a car or motorcycle.. Sucks yes very much so...

IMO 25 MPH creates a more dangerous situation than if they were allowed to do 40... Most Fort Wayne cops share this opinion too, and seldom bother a scooterist, they have bigger things to worry about, but New Haven's treatment of scooterist almost borders on harassment...

I was in a scooter club that met in New Haven and when this started happening to our members we moved it to an other location inside Fort Wayne city limits..

I should also say that New Haven now requires a scooter owner to register there scooter with the NHPD, this registration cost 25 dollars, and your given a sticker with a number on it that is good only in NHPD's database and no where else... Tell me this is not a money racket...

[one1]

That Indiana law list above is laughable. Who has time to sit around and think all this useless crap up on our tax dollars?

"if it's June and you're wearing a blue shirt on the 12th through the 23rd and you ate taco's for lunch you can drive 25 MPH on a road with only 2 lanes"

Seriously........... Geez.

I was riding with no helmet about 35 or so in a 25 in my neighborhood on my scootie today testing it around the house after carb work and the Sheriff moved over for ME to go by (Gave me some space oncoming) and he just kept on going. The whole bike thing is pretty relaxed around here unless you're on a rocket. The rocket guys around here are kind of a problem. The Harley crowd ride faster though and they seem to completely ignore them no matter what. Harley guys in this area are the middle age crisis $30,000.00 Harley riders. They make sure they have the loudest bikes possible. One guy 3 houses up from me LITERALLY shakes every window in my house when he is within that 3 house radius, yet the cops look at you weird if your muffler on your car is louder than stock. We have two HUGE harley stores here and most of the cops own one.

[tango]

Not a single scooter on the market today would be considered a moped in Indiana. I don't think any 49cc scoot has less than 3hp these days, by default, making them all motorcycles. And if they are speed limited they are usually limited to about 30 or 35mph. It would be interesting to hear what the automotive crowd would make of their Honda Fit being limited to 25mph for the privilege of driving a fuel-efficient car.

[jmkjr72]

well most of the laws were writen back in the day when mopeds were real popular
even when most of the laws were writen what most if not all scooters were larger then 50cc

you could have it like here in wi where basicly every year you got to check to see the law
i have seen the law change several times for 50cc here as to what the top speed could be from no top speed to 30 or 35 mph
the one thing that stayed the same over the years is the hp

but it realy doesnt matter as here you pay for plates the same price as a motorcyle and other then saying moped on them
and all you need is a dl not the endoresement
there are only 2 places that i have seen them be pricks if you have moped plates
madison thanks to all the collage kids on scoots down there
and door county the tourist trap on the lake and bay

[Tweak09]

Yeah the Indiana laws are pretty old. Like way old haha. I know a couple of senates have tried to push a new bill on mopeds/scooters. Their trying to keep drunks off of them though but without having to have a license to drive one. If that makes sense? haha.

I mean to me make us register the scoot, give us some kind of sticker or whatever to show that it's been registered and call it that. If a drunk tries to register it then deny it. Yeah sure he might get a friend or whatever to do it but if the scoot is in your name it wouldn't work. It would just turn into a lot of work for someone to do it if they didn't already own it. And for gods sake raise the 25mph rule! It's so stupid. I have friends with old 80+ sprees that do 30 at least bone stock.

I have no problems paying my state money to ride around. It doesn't bother me. That's life and it will always be that way. I'm 22 and I've accepted that. What bothers me is the guys in office taking their time trying to pass some kind of law while I can't even register my Zuma as a motorcycle because it's a 50cc. According to Indiana law though it does over 25mph and the HP is over 2. So I would think that would make me a motorcycle yes?

Sorry done ranting haha. Indiana laws on these thing tick me off.

[larry001964]

The first trick in getting a scooter registered as a motorcycle in Indiana is the title....
Tell them it's been modified to a 63 even if it's a 50 cc, and goes over 25..

You may need a affidavit attesting to this.. I did.. but mine really is a 91cc now.. Also be aware that doing this you will need to insure it, plate it, and you will need a MC endorsement or beginners motorcycle permit...

[2strokd]

My Aprilia said "Motorcycle" on the VIN tag... That was a mess to talk my way out of! I did it though! Thanks to all of you that helped We won that case dangit!

If they would just lift that 25MPH thing it wouldnt be so bad. They dont care if its a Moped or Scooter. A "higher up" gets their panties in a bunch and they start a big rash of scooter pullovers.
Thats what happened to me anyway... Wrong place, wrong time.. WRONG COP!

Around here it seems if you ride fast.. Over 25 in front of some cops. Have a scooter that looks fast, or modded and you will get fallowed and or pulled over eventually.

Unfortunately since ive been riding my stock Cobra, (a scooter with around 5hp BTW) i havent been stopped or had any trouble. (knock on wood). I say unfortunately because ide love to have a modded mean ass DD scoot. Just not worth the hassle yet. Thought i was never going to talk them into giving Skeedr back without hiring a layer first.