Re: FL Gas MB Registration NOT Required as of 04/20/2011
Let's look at it in terms of law..
1. Definition of moped IN LAW describes a bicycle with a gas motor on it.
2. In the statutes, it states you MUST register a moped.
3. In the statutes, it states you NEED a license to ride a moped.
Now let's look at DMV...
1.) The DMV will NOT let you register a gas powered bicycle. (as of 4/20/11)
(Since you NEED to register a moped (gas bicycle by definition) and the DMV won't let you register it, (BECAUSE of needed safety equipment) police CAN ticket you for an unregistered moped, that's the rationale behind a gas bicycle not being legal for road use.)***
2.) Since a gas bicycle by definition is a moped, you need a license for it.
*** Some people will say, since you can't register it, it is not a moped. EXACTLY!!! According to the DMV, it is NOT.. But according to the STATUTES (law) it IS.. and since it is classified by law as one, you need to register it, hence the reason why the DMV will not LEGALLY register it, because in order to be used on public roads, it has to be lawfully registered for road use.
P.S. You can't in one instance say the DMV won't let you register it, so it must be ok and then in another instance say the DMV is wrong when it sends a letter saying you can't use it on public roads. You either have to take "their word" ALL the time or none.
This has been PROVEN in case LAW before, with people getting ticketed for riding unregisterable vehicles on pubic roads. (i.e. gopeds and the like).
Some people will say that a bicycle doesn't need to be registered and it's allowed on public roads...
Yes, BUT the definition of a BICYCLE IS written in a statute (law) and says it's either a regular (pedal) bicycle or an electric one.. Anything else is NOT a bicycle and is subject to statutory definitions.