Columbus moped crash kills driver, 14

This scooter/moped thing is getting rediculous. There needs to be some training done. So the drivers no the basics. Some follow bicycle laws, other follow no laws, and the scooters are a short cut for anyone with a DUI conviction who lost there license. Just this weekend I saw a scooter on a sidewalk going 50 mph almost run into a lady with her baby carriage.

There hasn't been a moped manufactured or used in years, unless you're in the Far East.

I suspect he was on a scooter, not a moped.

Indiana Moped Laws
Moped Definition
A moped, or "Motorized bicycle," is a two (2) or three (3) wheeled vehicle, that is propelled by an internal combustion engine or a battery powered motor. If it is powered by a motor, the engine have less than two horsepower, a cyclinder capacity less than 50c.c., an automatic transmission, and a maximum speed less than 25mph on a flat surface. Electric mopeds are only required to travel less than 25mph on a flat surface.

Mini Choppers
Mini choppers are usually classfied as motorcycles because they may not meet all the requirements above to be classified as a moped. Since they are classified as motorcycles, they are required to have a license plate, proof of insurance, and the rider must have a motorcycle endorsement on his or her driver's license.

Moped Licensing Information
Moped operators must be atleast fifteen years old, and they must possess a Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) issued license or identifaction card. No motorcycle license is required to operate a moped.

Safety Information and Laws
Everyone under the age of 18 is required to wear a helmet and eye protection while riding on a moped. The protective headgear that is worn must meet the requirements set by the USDOT. The protective eyewear required can be a pair of protective glasses, goggles, or a transparent face shield. All operators under the age of 18 who ride on motorcycles must also wear a helmet and eye protection.

Mopeds cannot be operated on sidewalks or Interstate highways.

Anyone caught riding a motorcycle without the proper registration or equipment will be given a ticket and the motorcycle will be impounded until it is licensed and insured correctly. The fines for these violations will range between $112.00 to $132.00 dollars.

Mopeds are also required to abide by the following laws regarding the operation of vehicles on public land:

Brakes are required that are capable of producing deceleration at 14 feet per second on level ground at a speed of 20 miles per hour.
Vehicles cannot be used to hunt, kill, or pursue a wild bird or any wild or domestic animal
An individual shall not operate a vehicle 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise without having a lighted headlight and taillight
An individual shall not operate a vehicle unless the vehicle has a muffler in good working condition and in continual operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and annoying smoke.
A person who violates these statues commits a Class C Infraction or a Class B Misdemeanor.

Vehicle Registration
If you are renewing a registration, you will pay an excise tax fee (perhaps a sur and wheel tax if applicable to your county) and a registration fee. You can renew a standard vehicle registration, along with many other transactions, at any license branch in the state of Indiana. All registrants are required to provide the name of their current insurance company and their corresponding policy number.

If you have purchased a vehicle, State law requires Indiana residents to remit a 6% Indiana sales tax on vehicle purchases. Motorists who purchase a vehicle from an out-of-state dealer or from an individual must pay sales tax at the time of title application. Motorists must apply for a title within 31 days of purchase. Failure to do so will result in a late fee.

If you are a new Indiana resident, you are required to have a certificate or origin, odometer statement, proof of insurance, and a verification of your Social Security number.

External Resources

I object to anybody driving a motorized vehicle on the streets without a driver's license and valid registration to help pay the taxes. A 14 year old is not mature and responsible enough to follow the rules of the road. I am surprised this has not happened in Lebanon. The police will enforce cars running stop signs, but mopeds get a free pass on the laws.

In Lebanon, they even ride them on the sidewalks. Our lawmakers need to save lives and change the laws on moped requirements. This is a very sad story and our laws should not have allowed a 14 year old on the streets with a motorized vehicle.

Bicycle, Moped and ATV Laws

Spring is here, warmer temperatures have arrived, and neighborhood children have resumed outdoor play. This is a good time to review some relevant Indiana Law's dealing with requirements of Bicycles, Motorized Bicycles, and ATV's found in the Indiana Code 9-21-11 and 14-16.

Indiana Code 9-21-11: Bicycles & Motorized Bicycles

A bicycle can not be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which the bicycle is designed and equipped.
A person upon a bicycle, a coaster, roller skates, or a toy vehicle may not attach the bicycle, coaster, roller skates, or toy vehicle or the person to a street car or vehicle upon a roadway.
A person who rides a bicycle may not carry a package, a bundle, or an article that prevents the person from keeping both hands upon the handlebars.
A person may not ride a bicycle unless the bicycle is equipped with a bell or other device capable of giving a signal audible for a distance of at least 100 feet. A bicycle many not be equipped with and a person may not use upon a bicycle a siren or whistle.
A bicycle operated on a highway from one-half hour after sunset until one-half hour before sunrise must be equipped with a lamp on the front exhibiting a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and a lamp on the rear exhibiting a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear or a red reflector visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear.
A bicycle must be equipped with a brake that will enable the person who operates the bicycle to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level, clean pavement.
Indiana Code 9-21-11-12: Motorized bicycles (Mopeds); Prohibitions on Operation; Conditions

A motorized bicycle may not be operated under any of the following conditions:

By a person less than 15 years of age.
By a person who has not obtained an Identification Card (or driver's license) from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
On an interstate highway or a sidewalk.
At a speed greater than 25 miles per hour.
A person less than 18 years of age who operates or rides a motorized bicycle on a street or highway shall wear protective headgear meeting minimum requirements established by the USDOT, and they shall wear protective glasses, goggles, or a transparent face shield.
Those who violate these statutes commit a Class C Infraction.
Indiana Code 14-16: Regulation of Land Recreation

ATV's and snowmobile's may not be operated on public property unless they are registered.
An individual may not operate a vehicle required to be registered upon a public highway, street, or rights-of-way thereof or on a public or private parking lot not specifically designed for the use of vehicles.
Read the Indiana Code 14-16-1-20 for exceptions to this statute.
An individual less that 14 years of age may not operate a vehicle without immediate supervision of an individual at least 18 years of age, except on land owned or under the control of the individual or the individual's parent or legal guardian.
A vehicle may not be used to hunt, pursue, worry, or kill a wild bird or a domestic or wild animal.
A vehicle may not be operated between sunset and sunrise unless the vehicle has at least 1 headlight and 1 taillight.
A vehicle may not be operated at any time unless the vehicle has adequate brakes capable of producing deceleration at 14 feet per second on level ground at a speed of 20 miles per hour.
An individual shall not operate a vehicle at a rate of speed greater than is reasonable and proper having due regard for existing conditions or in a manner that unnecessarily endangers the person or property of another
An individual shall not operate a vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or illegal narcotics/habit forming depressants or stimulants.
An individual shall not operate a vehicle during the hours 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise without displaying a lighted headlight and taillight.
An individual shall not operate a vehicle unless the vehicle is equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and annoying smoke.
An individual shall not operate a vehicle within 100 feet of a dwelling between midnight and 6:00 AM except on the individual's own property or property under the individual's control or as an invited guest.
An individual shall not operate a vehicle on any property without consent of the landowner or tenant, on or across a cemetery or burial ground, or on a railroad track or railroad right-of-way.
A person who violates these statues commits a Class C Infraction or a Class B Misdemeanor. Read IC 14-16-1 for full statute text.
HAVE FUN — SAFELY!

Its not 14, its 15 yrs of age! You must carry a IN state ID card, as well as the rest of the stuff. Also, by law, a moped/scooter is a single person only. If it can carry goods or passengers, it is a motorcycle and falls under those lic. req.! Hold the parents responsible! if the police stop them, then mommy & daddy are up complaining harasement, everyone else is doing it, etc. BMV needs to change the laws so its not so vague for the people selling them( the way it is written, no two judges can give you the same interpretation: one says its 1.5 hp, another says its 49cc or less, its can have a trasmission, it can't, it just goes on and on).

give US a break wrote:

Its not 14, its 15 yrs of age! You must carry a IN state ID card, as well as the rest of the stuff. Also, by law, a moped/scooter is a single person only. If it can carry goods or passengers, it is a motorcycle and falls under those lic. req.! Hold the parents responsible! if the police stop them, then mommy & daddy are up complaining harasement, everyone else is doing it, etc. BMV needs to change the laws so its not so vague for the people selling them( the way it is written, no two judges can give you the same interpretation: one says its 1.5 hp, another says its 49cc or less, its can have a trasmission, it can't, it just goes on and on).

Nope the law says you have to be 15. take a look:

http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title9/...

How about we just simplify it? If it doesn't have an engine, it's a bicycle and the laws are clear. If it does have a motor it is a motorcycle and the laws are clear. No more moped/scooter/whatever controversy, no more little kids driving motorized vehicles on the street or sidewalk.

It's the Mommies Law....no dear, you may not have a moped/scooter or ATV. Why? Because I LOVE YOU.

Nope wrote:

<quoted text>
Nope the law says you have to be 15. take a look:
http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title9/...

read the post again! Thats what it says.

There need to carry an organ donar card so at least someone can benefit from their reakless behavior!!

Cpetr13 wrote:

How about we just simplify it? If it doesn't have an engine, it's a bicycle and the laws are clear. If it does have a motor it is a motorcycle and the laws are clear. No more moped/scooter/whatever controversy, no more little kids driving motorized vehicles on the street or sidewalk.

You need to be a lawmaker! Our current lawmakers spend too much time on laws and make them to complicated to understand. What is so hard defining a law like you did?

Nope wrote:

<quoted text>
Nope the law says you have to be 15. take a look:
http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title9/...

Nuh uh, it says you have to be 15. You sould check it out.

Who cares what age it is. Where were the parents?

I also pray for this family as they deal with their loss. Hope the parents realize their fault in not educating their child on his moped/scooter. The passenger will get a 2nd chance the driver never will. I wish all parents would use this as a lesson but we all know there are too many uninvolved and careless parents out there who let their kids run the streets with no clue what they are up to.

ANDY AND BARNEY wrote:

I PRAY FOR THE FAMILYS.IT IS THE PARENTS WHO ARE IN CHARGE OF KIDS RIDIND A BIKE OR A SCOOTER.NO ONE ELSE!!!!

"The boys wear not wearing helmets, Norman said"

Is that really what Norman said?

Editor, please.

Another sad, sad case of parents lacking the ability to say, "NO!"

No kid ever died for lack of a moped/scooter/ATV--but too many have died because parents couldn't exercise basic common sense and refuse to buckle to their kid's pressure to buy one.

Too, too sad.

I think parents need to take responsiblity for training their kids the rules of the road, they need to prove they are responsible, riding a moped on streets and driving cars, is not a luxury, it is a preiviledge. Being repsonsible would be wearing helmets, etc. I do feel sorry for the families, not saying one family is hurting more than the other, but I feel more sorry for the driver who could not avoid the collison, because of the young boy not following the rules of the road and stopping at the stop light. The driver will have to live with this the rest of their life. Even though it is not their fault, they will continue to blame themselves for the accident, some things they will think, "what if I had driven a touch slower", "what if I had went a different route", "what if I had pressed my brakes harder", etc etc.