Dax,
Longmont requires registration for just plain old bicycles. I'd assume it's because there's so much spandex here, and bike theft is an issue.
I know our bikes fall under the "motor-assisted bicycle" catergory, but they also fall under the motorized bicycle category in Colorado. This is my interpretation anyway...
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(56) "Motor-driven cycle" means every motorcycle, including every motorscooter, with a motor which produces not to exceed six brake-horsepower and every bicycle with motor attached, but not trail bikes, minibikes, go-carts, golf carts, and similar vehicles which are not designed for or approved by the department for use on the public roads or highways and not motorized bicycles as defined in paragraph (b) of subsection (59) of this section.
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(b) "Motorized bicycle" means a vehicle having two or three wheels, a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cc, and an automatic transmission which produces a maximum design speed of not more than thirty miles per hour on a flat surface.
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Then compound that with the fact that you have to certify the motor size is less than 50cc on the "motorized bicycle" form if there are no pedals.
So it sounds like a "motorized bicycle" is any 2 or 3 wheeled vehicle, with or without pedals, 50ccs, and auto (or single speed) transmission. Sounds like a duck to me.
The only time I move my pedals is when I'm starting from a dead stop. To me, ghost-pedaling is just a way to make it "look" like you're still riding a regular old bicycle. Now if one were to use the motor solely as a helper, then it would certainly fall under the MAB definition. But most of us use the motor for the main propulsion method.
No, we don't usually get harassed by the cops about registration. I see this as a matter of convenience for them. The registration is a sticker, not a plate. So they can't really see from the road whether or not you're registered. If I was a cop, I'm not going to stop every motorized bike or scooter I see without a plate just to check that they have their sticker. But if I stop a motorized bike or scooter for a traffic issue, I sure as heck would check for the sticker at that point.
So I think it's a CYA thing. Sure, you might be able to fight something in court if you need to (on the off-chance you have an issue), based on the difference between a motor-assisted bicycle and a motorized bicycle, but to save $5.25 for 3 years, is it really worth it?
One of these days I'll get around to talking to someone at motor vehicle and see what they say.