New Md law requiring e-bikes to be titled, regist and insur

[thegreencommuter]

I just want to get people's input on this new law. I know there are Marylander s on this forum.
There is a new law passed in the state of Md. effective 10/01/2012 requiring mopeds and scooters to be titled, registered and insured.
Here is a what the law states..
BTW 1.5 bhp is = 1.1kw
NEW LAW EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2012 CONCERNING MOPEDS AND MOTOR SCOOTERS - Wednesday, August 08, 2012

Beginning October 1, 2012, Mopeds and Motor Scooters must be titled and insured, and a title decal must be displayed on the rear of the vehicle. Also, riders must wear protective headgear. If there is no windscreen, eye protection must also be worn.

http://www.mdsp.org/Portals/0/OMC/MOPED%20GRAPHIC.jpg WHAT’S A MOPED?

It is a bicycle designed to be operated by human power
with the assistance of a motor;
The motor has a rating of 1.5 brake horsepower or less;
It has pedals that drive the rear wheel(s);
It has 2 or 3 wheels, of which one is more than
14 inches in diameter.

 

[e-beach]

WHAT’S A MOPED?
It is a bicycle designed to be operated by human power
with the assistance of a motor;
The motor has a rating of 1.5 brake horsepower or less;
It has pedals that drive the rear wheel(s);
It has 2 or 3 wheels, of which one is more than
14 inches in diameter.

All I can say is my condolences.....

If you don't get it registered can you tell them that it is registered in California where they don't need registration?

 

[Chalo]

If you don't get it registered can you tell them that it is registered in California where they don't need registration?

You know, there might be a legally valid approach along those lines. I know that some states issue one-time plates for mopeds that don't require renewal. Technically speaking, if you have one of those, it's still valid in its state of origin, no matter how long you keep it.

If the moped/e-bike is not registered to you personally, then the authorities can't even demonstrate that you've failed to change over your registration to your state of residence as required.

Chalo

 

[auraslip]

At least insurance would be nice considering how fragile and expensive ebikes are.

 

[motomech]

It's aimed at 50cc motor scooters that can cruise at 40 mph and above. Like many areas I suppose, a multitude of storage locker 50cc Gas scooter vendors has popped up. Screaming in Craigslist; " NO LICENCES OR REGISTRATION REQUIRED", a false statement, that among other things, perpetuated the idea that convicted DUI cases, could ride them with out an operator's permit.
This has not escaped the view of lawmakers and I believe this new regulation is a direct result. Maryland was one of the first States to get tough on drinking and driving.
As this will pertain to gas scooters, those who lack a Title or at least a C.O., whether never received or never submitted and subsquentely lost, these folks have a problem.
Based on the other State where I live, it's N.B.D., or maybe a good thing. When Az. adopted basicly the same ordance some years back, the confusion came about because the insurance co.'s didn't have a model for rates for 50cc scooters. But my friend, who rides a Jog, says the insurance is now very inexpensive[and he's cheap!]. The fees are about the same as they will be in Md.[around $20].
So in the end, the scooter rider who otherwise obeys the general traffic rules, they can ride their 40 mph scooters without hassle.

For Ebikes, first off, there aren't many[and I wonder who here, actually sees other Ebikes?], but for those who go 35mph, 40 mph or up, they could have some trouble. I guess it would depend on the experience and confindence of the officer. While they[the police] surely know what a scooter/"moped" is, I doubt have a clue about the 1.1Kw limit or that translates to. After all, how would they enforce that? As more "fast" Ebikes frenquent the roads, they will likely draw more attention.
I ride my Ebike like a bicycle, like I rode a bicycle as a kid, ironicly, very illegally. I ride down sidewalks, sometimes backwards, cross at pedestrian crossings, though parks and of course down bikepaths. And I never even get a second look. But, I ride at Bicycle Speeds!
It's all about speed I guess.
I also am very courteous to those I meet, perhaps even overly so, sometime even pulling off the path and waiting.
But that is easy when one is retired and in no hurry.

 

[amberwolf]

WHAT’S A MOPED?

It is a bicycle designed to be operated by human power
with the assistance of a motor;
The motor has a rating of 1.5 brake horsepower or less;
It has pedals that drive the rear wheel(s);
It has 2 or 3 wheels, of which one is more than
14 inches in diameter.

So if you motorize a feet-forward recumbent or other bike/trike that drives the *front* wheel with the pedals, then it's not a moped?

If you search the text at this link:
http://167.102.242.144/search?q=cac...mga_searchb&num=50&ie=UTF-8&access=p&oe=UTF-8
then you'll find some discussion of bicycle and moped, within the state legistature documentation/reports, for "Department of Legislative Services 2012 Session FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE". It's "defnition" is slightly different than that listed above:

Current Law: A “motor scooter” is a nonpedal vehicle that meets certain technical
specifications including a motor that is under a specified horsepower or displacement
capacity. A motor scooter may not be operated at more than 30 miles per hour or on a
roadway with a maximum speed limit of more than 50 miles per hour. A “moped” is a
bicycle with pedals and either two or three wheels (one of which is at least 14 inches in
diameter), and which is assisted by a motor of at most 1.5 horsepower, or 50 cubic
centimeters capacity if the motor is an internal combustion engine.

Some other discussion states this in regards to who can ride one/etc:

Mopeds and motor scooters are specifically excluded from the definition of “motor
vehicle” under the Transportation Article, but they are more broadly encompassed within
the definition of “vehicle.” A “vehicle” is defined as a device in, on, or by which an
individual or property is or might be transported or towed on a highway. Motor vehicles,
with some exceptions, must be titled and registered. Even though the vehicles are not
subject to titling or registration, a person may not operate a moped or motor scooter if the
person does not possess a driver’s license or moped operator’s permit.

This link, for the actual bill itself:
http://167.102.242.144/search?q=cac...mga_searchb&num=50&ie=UTF-8&access=p&oe=UTF-8
lists this for the definition of moped:

“Moped” means a bicycle that:
(1) Is designed to be operated by human power with the assistance of a
motor;
(2) Is equipped with pedals that mechanically drive the rear wheel or
wheels;
(3) Has two or three wheels, of which one is more than 14 inches in
diameter; and
(4) Has a motor with a rating of 1.5 brake horsepower or less and, if
the motor is an internal combustion engine, a capacity of 50 cubic centimeters piston
displacement or less.

So if your pedals are hooked to the front wheel or a generator to make a serial-hybrid, as has been done at least twice successfully on ES, then it does not meet this definition, and is thus either an illegal vehicle or is at least not a moped. The question of which one would be up to the judge that hears your case, I suppose.

 

[dogman dan]

Does Md motor vehicle statutes define an e-bike, like with the 20 mph 1 hp etc? If not, you are screwed because any motor would then be a moped.

New Mexico is same, no such thing as an ebike by state law. But the moped law is nice. No watt limit, just 50ccs. I interperet that to mean 3 hp is legal. Technically, since they don't say, no watt limit period. Just a speed limit. Part of why I got into slow motors with good wattage.

 

[crichman]

On Friday I was the first at my local Maryland MVA to walk in and say "I'd like to title my electric bicycle, please." They hadn't ever done one, and didn't think they could. It only worked because I had the name and phone number of the poor soul at MVA headquarters who is responsible for implementing the program.

Maryland has always considered ebikes to be mopeds, but exempted them from nearly everything. We're exempt no more:

1. You're required to carry liability insurance. (Most insurers are clueless about ebikes. Progressive won't write it via their headquarters direct sales office, but their "moped specialist" agent link lists somebody in Texas who'll write the insurance for $75.) I was not asked to show proof of insurance at MVA. Then again, I wasn't asked to show anything at all.
2. You're required to wear an approved helmet and eye protection. (A fairing counts as eye protection.)
3. You have to affix a Maryland Special Serial Number plate to your ride. (This is their substitute VIN.)
4. You have to affix an ugly 4 inch square ORV sticker to the rear of your ebike in plain view. (Yes, this is an Off Road Vehicle sticker, complete with the picture of the 4-wheeler on it. They're plainly recycling them for this purpose.)
5. If you buy a new ebike you've got to pay excise tax. Older ones are grandfathered.
6. Everybody pays a one-time $5 fee for their sticker.
7. You don't actually get a title, just a receipt for the sticker.
8. You don't actually need to show any information, just write your driver's license number on one of the forms and assert your ownership, value, etc.
9. They treat any ebike that was created by adding a motor to a previously non-motorized ride as "home made".

Sigh.

Charlie
2006 Giro 26 / Bionx PL350

 

[rscamp]

This kinda stuff makes no sense for something like a 250W pedelec....

 

[Punx0r]

The people who made this law may have been unaware of low-powered ebikes. I wouldn't be surprised if an amendment follows to exempt them...

 

[amberwolf]

I doubt they understand them at all, and figure anything with a motor is a motor is a fast motor is a danger is a motor gotta have a license and tax those scary things ya know?

In my limited experience lawmakers do not know very much, if anything, about the things they are creating laws about.

 

[Sunder]

And so it ended. Not with a bang, but a whimper.

I wonder if there was a specific incident - a surge in complaints, a DUI killing themselves, someone knocking down a pedestrian and perhaps not stopping.

It's sad, because it is so much better for everyone, if there were more bikes - and especially electric bikes on the road. But it was always going to happen. Society does tend to over-regulate, but it's because a small number of people force us to over-regulate. Many people don't see that, because they act sensibly, and they rightly don't see why their rights should be infringed on, by the guy who insists on lane splitting traffic at 50mph.

 

[MattyCiii]

"No Officer, that's actually a generator. Follow the wiring from there, through the controller, to the 'backup battery' then eventually to the lights. The lights is why I installed the generator in the first place..."

 

[John in CR]

If you don't get it registered can you tell them that it is registered in California where they don't need registration?

You know, there might be a legally valid approach along those lines. I know that some states issue one-time plates for mopeds that don't require renewal. Technically speaking, if you have one of those, it's still valid in its state of origin, no matter how long you keep it.

If the moped/e-bike is not registered to you personally, then the authorities can't even demonstrate that you've failed to change over your registration to your state of residence as required.

Chalo

In that case I'll print up a copy of the registration and plate required for down here to anyone who needs one. It would be a blank piece of paper. LOL

 

[rjoe]

So a "home made" ebike is now illegal in MD?

 

[aroundqube]

So a "home made" ebike is now illegal in MD?

According to a discussion on another forum you can do it with 3 MVA forms; VR-337 ( Title Decal ), VR-450 ( Affidavit of Ownership ) , and VR-198 ( Application for VIN ). more info at http://www.motorbicycling.com/showthread.php?t=42632

 

[Samd]

I see a sudden uptake of bikes with 13.999 inch wheels....

 

[crichman]

I can confirm that aroundqube is correct. Titling mine took $5 and 2 hours. (I was the first to try in my local MVA office, and they didn't know how to do it yet.) You get a lovely 4" square ORV (yes, Off Road Vehicle!) sticker and an aluminum serial number plate that you're supposed to rivet to your ride.

You are also supposed to purchase liability insurance. Best quote I got was $75 from Progressive (not from their direct-sales team, but from the moped specialist listed via their agent locator.) That's their minimum price for a policy. I was able to get well more than the required liability limits for that cost. Rumor has it that mine may be the first ebike they've insured.

Charlie

 

[Alttransbikes]

This kinda stuff makes no sense for something like a 250W pedelec....

Agreed but mission creep IE: faster bikes = revenue stream.

 

[rjoe]

I was thinking that I would have to buy a "store-bought" e-bike and transfer my drive train and electronics in order to get a title for my vehicle. I'm glad that's not the case, because it really seemed to me like disenfranchising the poor of cheap green transportation, even if it really is in the name of safety.

I've been kind of upset about this law, but thinking about it, it would definitely make me feel a lot better to have liability insurance.

The worst part of the new law is the requirement that scooters an mopeds use the bike lane if one is available. As a person who rides a regular bike a lot, I think this is a terribly dangerous idea.

 

[rasputin1197]

I was thinking about doing the same thing... " buying a "store-bought" e-bike and transfer my drive train and electronics in order to get a title for my vehicle." Not the case...used Charlie's idea and contacted a Progressive Moped Specialist for my policy. Progressive made up a "dummy" VIN number and wrote it.

What I found interesting was...I called the agent back and inquired about increasing the liability payout amount....for no additional cost, Progressive increased the liability coverage to $500,000.

We're talk'n about a $71 annual premium. (Keep in mind....I live in Florida(Md. may be different).

I now feel much more at ease knowing that I have liability coverage for the bike...."you never know when someone decides to steps out in front of you" and ""KA POW"" you now into a personal injury law suit. Everything you have worked sooo hard for.... just goes in the toilet

 

[crichman]

One minor update: It turns out that your $5 does actually get you a real title document in the mail.

Hopefully it'll become a collector's item...

Charlie

 

[stiffi]

This makes me very sad. I was thinking about getting back into the ebike world, but now, probably not.

I have been riding a gas powered scooter, and I knew about this law, but I never imagined Ebikes would fall under it. I'm still not sure that was the spirit of the law, at least I hope not. I always assumed this legislation was aimed squarely at the hordes of young kids riding dirt bikes and scooters illegally around Baltimore. Those ARE a hazard, and for that I totally understand this law.

But to include ebikes is misguided and hurting an otherwise (mostly) upstanding, law abiding group who really only help society by responsibly choosing to limit the amount of fossil fuels they use, as well as wear and tear on public roadways.

I really hope somebody wakes up and writes an ammendment to exclude ebikes. Until then, I may as well stick to my scooter that already has a license plate, and insurance. At least paying for that seems much more logical.

 

[rjoe]

How much do you pay for scooter insurance?

 

[motomech]

I reside in Md and ride a stealthy Ebike like a bicycle and have never had a cop even give me a second look.
They have bigger fish to fry.
'll be waiting for the State to make me insure and title.