Proposed N.C. Moped Bill (House Bill 1145) PASSED, SENT TO GOV. FOR SIGNING

[scootermaven]

So, what say all you moped/scooter riders in N.C. regarding the likely-to-pass House Bill 1145, which will require all 50 cc and less  riders to register, title and insure these two-wheeled conveyances?  One more House concurrence vote passing and it will likely become law soon.  Any thoughts, comments on this?

[08087]

The less gov interfears with the gen population the better I like it. Personal responsibility is what matters to me, if you hit someone and don't have insurance you'd better have deep pockets so you can pay them. Getting a car/bike registered is a money grab IMO.

What ever happened to thou shall not infringe my freedom of travle?

[zombie]

Money grab, agreed.

I'd like to see the numbers that tell exactly how much tax money was spent on paying for un-insured 50cc scooter damages.
If un-insured 50cc damages are costing more dollars than they generate (scooter sales/repair job income/ability to afford going to any job) I am all for reg/insurance.
If the numbers favor allowing them to carry on I am for that.

None of us can make an un informed decision here. Most of all those pigs that sign the bills, and sit texting in the freaking assembly chamber.

Show me the numbers, and let me decide. That should be the first response.

[Urbestfriend]

These new laws seem to be propagating thru the U.S. This year.  Virginia and Indiana, among others, are also on the list.  If I recall, a 50cc caused a Dump Truck to collide with a school bus in Indiana.  In the second case,  most riders around here use this mode of transport because they lost their Drivers License.  My plates and full coverage insurance are around $200.00. (For 250cc).  For Liability only,  my Vino 50 is about $18.00/year.  This has probably been a long time coming,  but may turn out to be a protection for serious, respected riders and possibly unsuspected motorists.

[scootermaven]

I personally feel that it is also sort of a "money grab".  Initially, it will cost the state a lot of time, energy and money just to implement such an undertaking, so the state won't realize much revenue from this for quite some time.  And, by that time, a lot less folks will be using them anyway, whether it be a owner's or a potential owner's investment (affordability) issue, convenience issue, etc., which sort of negates the "imagined" revenue stream.  I wish, at least initially, N.C. would adopt a similar system that S.C. has, which requires tagging, but little else....baby steps, if you will.  I think N.C. legislators might be seeking for too much, too soon.  I do get the safety (liability) part of it though, including, but not necessarily limited to being able to at least identify the owner of a moped/scooter in the state.  If there was some way to for the scoots/peds to registered without too much red tape and maybe set-up some sort of voluntary insurance fund, I think that would be a good first step.  If it meant foregoing the current house bill proposal requirements, I'd personally be delighted to contribute a reasonable donation just for the privilege of operating a 50 cc or below scoot/ped without too much hoopla.  Not sure how something like I'm suggesting could be achieved, but maybe it would be possible somehow.  BABY STEPS N.C., BABY STEPS.

[zombie]

The same way Florida does it. Any 49cc or less scooter that is operated on Public roads MUST be titled, and tagged. 70.00 a year for the tag, and an initial fee for the title (i forget how much but it is cheap).
There is no insurance requirement

As for dump trucks hitting school buss's... Lightning has to hit somewhere. I am willing to bet more trucks have hit sh** due to a dropped cigarette than all the scooter related accidents combined. BUT they don't force a bond or insurance on smoking truck drivers vs Non smokers.

What about the "lost his lisc. guy" that NEEDS a way to work, What about the single gal that NEEDS the scooter to deliver Pizza. What about the 14-15 year olds that are working their first jobs, and both parents work? What about a guy like me that is sick, and tired of being force fed Oil, and Insc. by the money hungry F'rs that make these asinine laws?

There a a thousand GOOD reasons to allow cheap/tagged/titled vehicles on certain public roads. I can only think of one to disallow them. If they cause more harm then good.

IF the NC case is based on one random truck/bus accident it is actually a case of a politician wanting his/her name in the papers for ANYTHING that can jerk a tear.

Like I said... Neither for nor against. Prove either case w/ numbers or stay off my property!

[Porkie]

Mopeds and 50cc scooters that use the public roads should be treated as any other motor vehicle: Titled, insured, tagged and ridden by a licensed person that passes their states riding and written tests. Liability should be the same whether your machine goes 30 mph or Hayabusha type speeds as the public and individual is still at risk. Why should somebody get a special deal because they ride a baby scooter?

Sam:)

[zombie]

Because everyone cannot afford all the do dads that most struggle to maintain. There is a REAL need for an affordable alternative.

Most of the US has no mass transit so that is out... and like I pointed out a single mom w/ just one kid cannot afford to pay inflated insurance rates due to people committing Insc. fraud daily.

Licensed, I agree 100%. Same for titled. That makes a bread trail for all of us to rely on. Perhaps a reduced insc. rate? After all a 90 lbs. scooter cannot really hurt too much. About the same a a bicycle, and they CAN drive on the same roads uninsured at about the same speeds.

Here is an example from our own ranks... I'm not telling any secret either.
Wordslinger lost his Lisc., and had THREE kids to support. Granted he chose to drink, and drive but in all honesty the judge/proscuter/defense attorney have ALL done the same.
 Slinger would have been on welfare (draining YOUR pockets) if it were not for North Carolina allowing him to commute on a 49cc scooter. He also found the time to post here, and help Thousands of people repair their machines so they to could ride to work. Try taking three kids to soccer on a bike...
Multiply that times the several THOUSAND people that need these bikes, and watch how quickly your social security drains to feed the swollen Welfare rolls.

I'm really not arguing the point. Just speaking for the other side of the coin.

Funny thing is... It's the working poor that put in 60 hours, and work 2-3 jobs to do this. No one even gives an unskilled worker 40 hours anymore due to Health Care laws.
Tell that hard as nails person they cannot drive a scooter to work anymore... Who's gonna bring your bowl of Borscht to the table? Cut your hair? Check you out in the WalMart line, or even drive your kids to school?

The people that have, TRULY do not give a sh** about the ones that do not. What happened?

[kingkymco125]

Here in Nevada the state legislature tried this three times and it was rejected by them. Back in the 2013 session the DMV had done a study and realized it was a waste of time to make the 50cc and less bikes register. The state would have only received an extra $70,000 in revenue, it would have required an extra 300 hours to get the new law in their system, and finally required them to hire more employees which the state does not have the funds at this time. The majority of drivers hate those who ride scooters here in Vegas.

[zombie]

Exactly my point. Let the numbers decide. You cannot argue w/ the math any more than you can change the laws of Physics.  If it can save tax payer money to enact new laws so be it. They have to consider the people in my previous post as well,  and their impact on the economy. You cannot play a game of cards without a full deck.
 All the factors have to be tallied. I THINK it will only hurt in the long run but I do not know.

[Chris0381]

If fees do occur then those fees should be limited as the scooter is limited to where it can go also.

[zombie]

Fair!

[arcanum70]

People will probably get upset with me, and that's fine, I'm used to that...lol

I agree with it.  Here in Vermont you have to register and insure, and honestly I like having insurance on my 50 (2012 Zuma 50f) because of anything happens to it, I'm covered.  I like having it registered because again, if anything happens to it (stolen) it's covered and DMV has a record of my VIN in case it gets sold and someone else tries to register it.

I have to be honest, these (what I like to call) DUI states  where you can ride a 50 with no kind of registration or license or insurance scare the hell out of me.  For me it's not only protection for the person on the bike, but also protection for the population.  If someone loses their license because of DUI's, exactly what is going to stop them from getting on a 50 while drunk and causing property or personal injury?  I'm sorry, but if some idiot on a 50 flies through and hits my car, garage or me, I would probably end up on prison after taking my damages out of their hide when I found out that they did not carry insurance.

[zombie]

That brings up a good point... You can easily fit a bag of ice, and a 12 pack under the seat. If you insulate it w/ two dish towels the ice lasts all day. saw that on YouTube, sort of.

[scootermaven]

I sent out a couple of emails today...one to the NC DMV and one the public relations director of the NC Dept. of Insurance.  The one to the DMV read like this, verbatim...

"If the House Bill 1145 becomes law, how will someone register a 50cc or less moped if they do not possess a Certificate of Title or a Certificate of Origin for the vehicle, which many do not apparently since it hasn't been required in the state for so long?  Also, how will the riders get insurance if they do not possess a driver's license?  I realize it is a bit premature, but the word on the street is that the measure will become law and I'm trying to be proactive to see how this is gonna work.  Thanks for your help!"

We will see what they say on this, if replied to, and I will post the response on the forum.

The copy below was the in the email was sent to Kerry Hall with the NC Dept. of Insurance...

"Kerry,

Hope you are well.  How will folks without a driver's license be able to insure a moped/scooter of 50cc or less if House Bill 1145 passes in its current form, which will require insurance.  Just curious how this is gonna work, not for me, but for a dear friend of mine who doesn't have a driver's license.  Clue me in, please."

Again, we'll see what kinda response I get, if any, and I will post the response on the forum.

I have inspection questions also, like will one pass inspection if it's been modified or not and if it goes over 30 mph on a flat road?  Like if you modified the stock exhaust, will it pass the emissions test?  I personally have a 2-stroke that will likely not pass either test.  Surely, if safety is part of the issue, these machines are going to have to be inspected, right?

Anyway,  I was informed today the legislators MAY have the concurrence vote on the bill this Thur. or Fri., although it's not on the calendar as of yet.  If it passes the concurrence vote, then it's likely to become law.

All this for what it's worth, of course.