I'm getting hassled here in Port A Texas.... I wrote this letter trying to get info on registering a mb.....
Ms. Williams,
Recently i have been riding my motorized bicycle to and from work and the beach.
Unfortunatly a copa police officer warned me that i need a registration plate for my bicycle.
I have inquired at city hall to comply ,but was told by barbra that she unable to issue a registration for a under 50cc motorised bicycle. (mine is 49cc).
I have asked the constables about it and they informed me that there is no registration for these type bicycles.
Please inform us the motorized bicyclist on the island and your fellow officers of your finding on this matter..
See picture of bike attached...
Thank you,
Brian Shaw
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And they responded like this......
I know it is confusing but here is what I have found about motorized bicycles, if anybody else can find something different, please let me know. All references are from the Texas Transportation code:
According to sec 551.301 paragraph 3: A motorized bicycle meets the definition of a pocket bike if the engine displacement is less than 50 cc’s; however section 551.304 specifically states that a pocket bike may not be operated on any highway, street or road.
Sec. 551.301. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter
(3) “Pocket bike or minimotorbike” means a self-propelled vehicle that is equipped with an electric motor or internal combustion engine having a piston displacement of less than 50 cubic centimeters, is designed to propel itself with not more than two wheels in contact with the ground, has a seat or saddle for the use of the operator, is not designed for use on a highway, and is ineligible for a certificate of title under Chapter 501. The term does not include:
(A) a moped or motorcycle;
(B) an electric bicycle or motor-driven cycle, as defined by Section 541.201;
(C) a motorized mobility device, as defined by Section 542.009;
(D) an electric personal assistive mobility device, as defined by Section 551.201; or
(E) a neighborhood electric vehicle.
Sec. 551.304. APPLICATION OF SUBCHAPTER TO POCKET BIKE OR MINIMOTORBIKE. This subchapter may not be construed to authorize the operation of a pocket bike or minimotorbike on any:
(1) highway, road, or street;
(2) path set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles; or
(3) sidewalk.
Section 541.201 may (I say may because I don’t know for sure) allow a motorized bicycle to be defined as a Moped if the owner can obtain a certificate of title under chapter 501 classifying it as a moped. The owner would have to go through TxDot to see if this is possible, but it seems to meet the definition. If the vehicle is classified as a Moped it must be registered as such and all licensing requirements apply if it is operated on a street, highway, or roadway.
SUBCHAPTER C. VEHICLES, RAIL TRANSPORTATION, AND EQUIPMENT
Sec. 541.201. VEHICLES. In this subtitle:
(8) "Moped" means a motor-driven cycle that cannot attain a speed in one mile of more than 30 miles per hour and the engine of which:
(A) cannot produce more than two-brake horsepower; and
(B) if an internal combustion engine, has a piston displacement of 50 cubic centimeters or less and connects to a power drive system that does not require the operator to shift gears.
CHAPTER 521. DRIVER'S LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES
Sec. 521.084. CLASS M LICENSE. A Class M driver's license authorizes the holder of the license to operate a motorcycle or moped.
Sec. 521.085. TYPE OF VEHICLE AUTHORIZED. (a) Unless prohibited by Chapter 522, and except as provided by Subsection (b), the license holder may operate any vehicle of the type for which that class of license is issued and any lesser type of vehicle other than a motorcycle or moped.
(b) Subsection (a) does not prohibit a license holder from operating a lesser type of vehicle that is a motorcycle described by Section 521.001(a)(6-a).
Sec. 521.122. TYPE OF VEHICLE REQUIRED TO BE INDICATED ON LICENSE. (a) The department shall show on each driver's license the general type of vehicle that the license holder is authorized to operate.
(b) The department may include on the driver's license an authorization to operate a motorcycle or moped if the license holder has met all requirements for a Class M license.
Sec. 521.225. MOPED LICENSE. (a) A person may not operate a moped unless the person holds a driver's license. An applicant for a moped license must be 15 years of age or older.
(b) The department shall administer to an applicant for a moped license a written examination relating to the traffic laws applicable to the operation of mopeds. A test involving the operation of the vehicle is not required.
An applicable provision of this chapter relating to a restricted Class M license applies also to a moped license, including a provision relating to the application, issuance, duration, suspension, cancellation, or revocation of that license.
The bottom line, as far as I can tell, is this; a motorized bicycle cannot be operated on the street unless the owner is able to get it titled as a moped and it is operated in accordance with the laws governing moped operations.
Scott Burroughs
Chief of Police
(361) 749-6241
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My response to this is FU.......I'm not jumping thru hoops to satisfy some no mind who has nothing better to do than hassle poor people trying to get around....
Ms. Williams,
Recently i have been riding my motorized bicycle to and from work and the beach.
Unfortunatly a copa police officer warned me that i need a registration plate for my bicycle.
I have inquired at city hall to comply ,but was told by barbra that she unable to issue a registration for a under 50cc motorised bicycle. (mine is 49cc).
I have asked the constables about it and they informed me that there is no registration for these type bicycles.
Please inform us the motorized bicyclist on the island and your fellow officers of your finding on this matter..
See picture of bike attached...
Thank you,
Brian Shaw
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And they responded like this......
I know it is confusing but here is what I have found about motorized bicycles, if anybody else can find something different, please let me know. All references are from the Texas Transportation code:
According to sec 551.301 paragraph 3: A motorized bicycle meets the definition of a pocket bike if the engine displacement is less than 50 cc’s; however section 551.304 specifically states that a pocket bike may not be operated on any highway, street or road.
Sec. 551.301. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter
(3) “Pocket bike or minimotorbike” means a self-propelled vehicle that is equipped with an electric motor or internal combustion engine having a piston displacement of less than 50 cubic centimeters, is designed to propel itself with not more than two wheels in contact with the ground, has a seat or saddle for the use of the operator, is not designed for use on a highway, and is ineligible for a certificate of title under Chapter 501. The term does not include:
(A) a moped or motorcycle;
(B) an electric bicycle or motor-driven cycle, as defined by Section 541.201;
(C) a motorized mobility device, as defined by Section 542.009;
(D) an electric personal assistive mobility device, as defined by Section 551.201; or
(E) a neighborhood electric vehicle.
Sec. 551.304. APPLICATION OF SUBCHAPTER TO POCKET BIKE OR MINIMOTORBIKE. This subchapter may not be construed to authorize the operation of a pocket bike or minimotorbike on any:
(1) highway, road, or street;
(2) path set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles; or
(3) sidewalk.
Section 541.201 may (I say may because I don’t know for sure) allow a motorized bicycle to be defined as a Moped if the owner can obtain a certificate of title under chapter 501 classifying it as a moped. The owner would have to go through TxDot to see if this is possible, but it seems to meet the definition. If the vehicle is classified as a Moped it must be registered as such and all licensing requirements apply if it is operated on a street, highway, or roadway.
SUBCHAPTER C. VEHICLES, RAIL TRANSPORTATION, AND EQUIPMENT
Sec. 541.201. VEHICLES. In this subtitle:
(8) "Moped" means a motor-driven cycle that cannot attain a speed in one mile of more than 30 miles per hour and the engine of which:
(A) cannot produce more than two-brake horsepower; and
(B) if an internal combustion engine, has a piston displacement of 50 cubic centimeters or less and connects to a power drive system that does not require the operator to shift gears.
CHAPTER 521. DRIVER'S LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES
Sec. 521.084. CLASS M LICENSE. A Class M driver's license authorizes the holder of the license to operate a motorcycle or moped.
Sec. 521.085. TYPE OF VEHICLE AUTHORIZED. (a) Unless prohibited by Chapter 522, and except as provided by Subsection (b), the license holder may operate any vehicle of the type for which that class of license is issued and any lesser type of vehicle other than a motorcycle or moped.
(b) Subsection (a) does not prohibit a license holder from operating a lesser type of vehicle that is a motorcycle described by Section 521.001(a)(6-a).
Sec. 521.122. TYPE OF VEHICLE REQUIRED TO BE INDICATED ON LICENSE. (a) The department shall show on each driver's license the general type of vehicle that the license holder is authorized to operate.
(b) The department may include on the driver's license an authorization to operate a motorcycle or moped if the license holder has met all requirements for a Class M license.
Sec. 521.225. MOPED LICENSE. (a) A person may not operate a moped unless the person holds a driver's license. An applicant for a moped license must be 15 years of age or older.
(b) The department shall administer to an applicant for a moped license a written examination relating to the traffic laws applicable to the operation of mopeds. A test involving the operation of the vehicle is not required.
An applicable provision of this chapter relating to a restricted Class M license applies also to a moped license, including a provision relating to the application, issuance, duration, suspension, cancellation, or revocation of that license.The bottom line, as far as I can tell, is this; a motorized bicycle cannot be operated on the street unless the owner is able to get it titled as a moped and it is operated in accordance with the laws governing moped operations.
Scott Burroughs
Chief of Police
(361) 749-6241
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My response to this is FU.......I'm not jumping thru hoops to satisfy some no mind who has nothing better to do than hassle poor people trying to get around....
