New Ma Moped Law Spares Motorized Bikes

[troyboy]

Good news for gasbikers Click on the Link

This new law seems to single out the scooters making them get Registered with licence plates and inspection sticker as well as insurance. They now have to park in metered Auto spots instead of on the the sidewalk. Boston does not have parking spots for motorcycles to begin with. In a city where parking is tight. There now will be scooters filling the already unavailable parking spots. For some reason people thought this law would hurt us MB's. It seems to have help us.. I see a lot more motorized bikes in the future. I registered one today as a moped No Problem. Can you say five zero's.


A new law that takes effect July 31, 2009 authorizes the RMV to create registration requirements that allow several alternative-type classes of vehicles to legally and safely share the roads of the Commonwealth.

Before the Massachusetts Legislature passed the statute last January, the RMV prohibited the registration of certain two to four wheeled electric and liquid-fueled vehicles because they either didn't meet federal certification or there were concerns about their safe operation on roadways designed for higher speed vehicles.

The state statute allows low speed and limited use vehicles as they are now defined, to be registered, titled, insured and inspected. The RMV has created distinctive license plates for each new class of "green vehicle"

Below are the definitions and requirements for each of these new classes:


Low Speed Vehicle (LSV)
A "low speed vehicle" is any . . .

4-wheeled motor vehicle that . .
has a 17-digit VIN
has been issued a Certificate of Origin
has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less than 3,000 pounds
has a top speed greater than 20 mph but not greater than 25 mph, and
is National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)-certified as a "Low Speed Vehicle," demonstrated by . . .
The Certificate of Origin listing the body style or body type as "LSV" or "Low Speed Vehicle"
The Manufacturer's Certification Label posted on the vehicle containing the VIN and indicating the TYPE of vehicle as a "Low Speed Vehicle."
Operating a Low Speed Vehicle
To be operated on a public way, LSVs must be registered, titled, insured, and inspected. If an electrical motor or batteries solely power the vehicle, no emissions test is required. If, however, the LSV is liquid-fueled, the emissions test is required.
Low speed vehicles are prohibited from "limited access" and "express state highways" and any portion of other roads where the speed limit exceeds 30 mph. They may also be prohibited from other highly-trafficked areas due to their inherent speed limitations.
Low speed vehicles, unlike other passenger-plated vehicles, may bear commercial lettering, and may be used for commercial purposes. Because only "passenger plates" will be issued for LSVs, commercial plates are not available.
Low speed vehicles can be operated with a driver's license or learner's permit.

Limited Use Vehicle (LUV)
A "limited use vehicle" is any vehicle . . .

That has been certified by its manufacturer to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) for that particular class of vehicle (e.g. passenger, motorcycle, truck, etc.),
whose speed on a paved level surface can exceed 30 miles per hour but is not capable of exceeding 40 miles per hour.
Operating a Limited Use Vehicle
To be operated on a public way, LUVs must be registered, titled, insured, and inspected. If an electrical motor or batteries solely power the vehicle, no emissions test is required. If, however, the LUV is liquid-fueled, the emissions test is required.
Limited use vehicles are prohibited from "limited access" and "express state highways," and any portion of other roads where the speed limit exceeds 40 mph. They may also be prohibited from other heavily-trafficked areas, due to their inherent speed limitations.
Limited use vehicles can be operated with a driver's license or learner's permit, unless it is certified to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for a motorcycle, then a motorcycle license or motorcycle learner's permit will be required. The RMV is currently seeking a statute change that would allow the operation of all limited use vehicles with a driver's license.


Mopeds and the New Law
The new law does not change requirements for registering motorized bicycles (mopeds). Vehicles that have an engine capacity of 50cc or less with an automatic transmission and a top speed of no greater than 30 mph must be registered with a small decal as a motorized bicycle subject to the following:

They cannot be operated at speeds greater than 25mph.
Cannot be ridden on limited access or express state highways where signs prohibiting bicycles are posted.
Cannot be ridden on off-street recreational bicycle paths but can use bicycle lanes along roadways.
Operators must use the proper electronic directional signals or hand signals before stopping or turning.
Operators must be 16 years of age and have a valid driver's license or learner's permit. If operating on a permit, they can only ride between sunrise and sunset.
Operators and passengers must wear approved safety helmets.
Operators are subject to all state traffic laws and regulations.
Operators cannot carry a passenger while operating on a permit.
Some vehicles currently registered as Mopeds may be required to be reclassified as a limited use vehicle when its current registration expires, if they meet the following conditions:The vehicle is certified by its manufacturer to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) for that particular class of vehicle (e.g. passenger, motorcycle, truck, etc.),
The vehicle's speed on a paved level surface can exceed 30 miles per hour but is not capable of exceeding 40 miles per hour.
Parking regulations for mopeds, Low Speed and Limited Use vehicles are promulgated by individual cities and towns. Please contact your local transportation department for any changes in parking regulations.

[Russell]

Doesn't the Ma. reg. form for a moped say something like " I certify that the vehical being regestered meets all standards for registration as a moped" ?

Which no standard bicycle can1

[HseLoMein]

yes it does say "I certify.." thats how i look at it, I certify. Time to "re-certify" mine in december.

[matthurd]

old thread i know, but according to somerville aldermen jack connoly (he lives like 3 houses down from me and is good friends/business partner with my dad). in MA these things are completely legal as long as under 50cc, just asked him today. no registration, no license, no insurance, none of that crap.

also unrelated but NH has got it nice n easy, under 5hp and you're good to go, legally, according to this thread at least

http://motorbicycling.com/f17/law-ne...e-16973-2.html

if you google Valerie Lamarre NH it turns out someone with that name does indeed work for the state of NH, which makes this much more likely.

makes me jealous even if MA laws about them aren't bad at all.

[HseLoMein]

@Matthurd

Unfortunately, you are mis informed. If you look at the Motorized Bicycle Registration (MOPED), http://www.mass.gov/rmv/forms/20017.pdf Massachusetts, requires all motorized Bicycles and moped up to 50cc to be registered and you need at least a lerners permit. but its only 40 for a 2 year sticker. Unfoirtunately, most people are mis informed and think you dont need anything, and even worse most of the police believe it too. I have my bikes registered so i can take them out of state.

[Russell]

HseLoMein,
I hear you and I am in the same boat. Hope we never are asked to backup our singned "I certify" statement.

And as far as being jealouse of NH laws, we both know enough about that first hand.

Jim

[matthurd]

heres the issue i have with that form, a moped by law can go up to 40mph now, to register a motorized bicycle it must be registered as a moped. it then says a motorized bicycle can not go more then 30mph, doesn't make sense.

also according to the form, it MUST have an automatic transmission, by using a jack shaft kit you have now created a manual transmission, so what is it considered then?

[Russell]

Yes, my registered Mb is single speed with auto clutch. Actually it should not even have a hand clutch on it to be leagle. Of course there are many other things that do not meet the moped requirement. I'm just hoping for the best and trying to come as close to the requirements as possiable.

[JediPollock]

Hi everyone! My car situation went from bad to worse then upgraded to SOL. I just hocked two cars for $1000 that I paid $5000 for. So being fed up with cars and insurance I've been doing research and trying to decide what I'm going to get next. I'm really worried about the legal side of my next choice of vehicle because I'm going all in. if the cops start hassling me about my $1200 motorbike or the DMV gives me grief about what my bike really is I'm guna be REALLY bummed-out.

I know this is an old post but it's a valuable one. from what I've been reading I hear that the DMV just takes my word for it that my bike has an automatic transmition, an engine 50cc or less, and can't go over 30mph? So long as you don't get caught by a savvy cop that knows what to look for your golden? The speed limit for all mopeds and motorbikes is 25mph all the time but in a car you can go 10 over the limit and not get pulled over. the cops basicly can't write the ticket unless your going atleast 11 over the limit. but I wonder how risky it would be going 31 on a motorbike...if you did sign a paper saying it couldn't do that.

Hope to hear some more about this topic real soon. I want to give pedaling a rest before the snow comes. I got my homemade ice tires for my Trek all ready. it's just getting darn cold out for sweating

glad to be here ya'll

[JediPollock]

yea a jackshaft would make it legally a manual but how many cops out there know/care about Mb laws. it's just like knife laws. I've bought butterfly knives from massachusetts knife shops because law enforcment doesn't care to bust shops for selling them and have actually had a cop hand me back my butterfly knife after just claiming ignorence to the law. Yea it must be legal here because I bought it here. I have yet to buy/build my own motorbike but, as of now my plan is to strap an 80cc engine labeled up as a 50 to a mountain bike with a jackshaft, certify it as legal cuz that's what the DMV allows me to do and if I'm pulled over I'm just guna point to the sticker that lets em know I paid the state my $40 to putter around my lil bike. I think that would work out