Texas is very tolerant of china girls all over the state. The DPS says we ride in a gray area of the law, and as far as they're concerned they're just bicycles so there's no need to register them.I'm down here in the cap city with a china girl. What should we worry about if we get pulled over? Can they confiscate our bike? I don't have a serial number on my bike. How do I get it registered as a bicycle?
When I contacted the TXDMV in Austin asking about motorized bicycles, I received the following response:
Thank you for your email. In Texas, we do not title or register motorized bicycles. We treat motorized bicycles the same as regular non-motorized bicycles. You may consider contacting your local law enforcement agency for the rules and regulations for operating bicycles on the public road.
Please feel free to contact me for any additional motor vehicle information.
Best Regards,
Nicole Caston
Consumer Relations Division
Texas Department of Motor Vehicles
I printed out a copy of the email and carry it when I ride (which isn't as often as I used to).
Write to the Texas State DMV asking about the regulations for motorized bicycles. When they reply, print out the email that is personally addressed to you.Man I need a copy of that email.
When I contacted the TXDMV in Austin asking about motorized bicycles, I received the following response:
Thank you for your email. In Texas, we do not title or register motorized bicycles. We treat motorized bicycles the same as regular non-motorized bicycles. You may consider contacting your local law enforcement agency for the rules and regulations for operating bicycles on the public road.
Please feel free to contact me for any additional motor vehicle information.
Best Regards,
Nicole Caston
Consumer Relations Division
Texas Department of Motor Vehicles
I printed out a copy of the email and carry it when I ride (which isn't as often as I used to).
This is true. I have never been hassled by the cops, but I carry the printed email in case I come across a cop that doesn't know what to do.That's basically the TDMV saying as far as they know, they're bicycles.
If you contact state law enforcement, you get pretty much the same answer, that they also consider them bicycles.
That takes care of the DMV, and DPS, but there's still local police, and they may take a different interpretation of the law.
The problem is there's no mention of gas powered motor bicycles in any Texas statutes. Both the TDMV, and the TDPS have taken the position that they consider gas powered motor bicycles, bicycles, but your locality is free to interpret the law differently. This is why the DPS says we ride in a gray area of the law.
This is what I believe to be the bottom line. In Texas all motor vehicles are considered self propelled. As long as no one can say he saw your bike ride off from a stop without pedaling, you can claim in court that your bike is not self propelled, because it has to be pedaled.
In reality you probably will never be bothered unless it's for something like running a stop sign.
Exactly. If we're gonna ride in a legal gray area, it's better to have some kind of defense IN WRITING. I might look for something from the DMV's policies to go with it too.This is true. I have never been hassled by the cops, but I carry the printed email in case I come across a cop that doesn't know what to do.
He might just let the email from the DMV make it easier for him by not having to make his own judgement call.
Before starting this thread I ask the same question to the Farmers Branch police department.If your bicycle is not on this list, you will need to contact the City of Austin or Austin Police Department to verify if there are any local ordinances prohibiting its use on Austin roadways.
My message to them was:
I have a gasoline powered motorized bicycle. Are they legal on Austin roads? Do I need to get it registered? Can I register the bicycle?
They really didn't give me much there. Should I re-word the Email I sent them?
Welcome to the forum. Post some more info when you get a chance.I just wanted to introduce my self. My name is Tom and I have been working on a compressed air power bike to ride here in Richmond Texas. I have made good progress. its top speed is 14 mph. the range is the issue, but am working on improving that and increasing top speed.
I just wanted to introduce my self. My name is Tom and I have been working on a compressed air power bike to ride here in Richmond Texas. I have made good progress. its top speed is 14 mph. the range is the issue, but am working on improving that and increasing top speed.