Hi, as probably most of you, I have a moped that is capable of well over 30 mph. I was wondering if I can get in legal trouble for this, even though I already successfully got the bike registered as a moped? Has anyone ever gotten in trouble for this? The title that was sent to me said it had a max speed of 29mph but it doesn't. Can I get busted for driving it faster than it is supposed to be able to go?
Penalty for moped going faster than 30mph.
Re: Penalty for moped going faster than 30mph.
most likely the cops in your area won't know the "no faster than 30mph on a straight" rule. I'd say you'll be fine as long as you adhere to the speed limit of the road and stay off of freeways. :)
Re: Penalty for moped going faster than 30mph.
I have never had a problem with the cops for me going over 30mph.
Re: Penalty for moped going faster than 30mph.
do you have your motorcycle license? if you do i dont think they can bust you anyway.
Re: Penalty for moped going faster than 30mph.
Probably all depends on where you live. In Texas I think the rule is, anything over 50cc's requires a motorcycle license and would think that would be a pretty standard rule. There's also the 'no faster than 30mph on a straight flat road' rule that Laura mentioned, but who's really going to test or argue either one of those rules?
Re: Penalty for moped going faster than 30mph.
Yea here in NJ they dont care, and usualy there hard-asses.
Just adhere to speed limits and don't do crazy shit like passing cops in a 20 mph zone and you'll be fine.
Re: Penalty for moped going faster than 30mph.
I'v also thought about this. The po po's around here kno the 30mph deal, so I try to watch for them.
Re: Penalty for moped going faster than 30mph.
don't ride like a dooch and smile n wave :P
Re: Penalty for moped going faster than 30mph.
In Nashville they stop you to tell you how much they know about mopeds. which isn't much by the way. but since there basically aren't flat stretches I don't think they would ever be ever to test it.
btw my puch murray is the shit!!! best $100 I ever spent ;)
Re: Penalty for moped going faster than 30mph.
I'm curious too. no one answered his question. so what if you do happen to get that cop who knows this and wants to enforce it. could he impound your bike? he couldn't give you a ticket. if your state doesn't have tags, title, reg, etc. so what could he do other then take you bike? just say "don't do that" and leave?
Re: Penalty for moped going faster than 30mph.
there is no way you will get in trouble once your bike is registered.
Re: Penalty for moped going faster than 30mph.
Part of my response depends on how radar guns work. If there's a chance that the cop's radar gun could pick up a car around you rather than you (since we're so small compared to cars), then I might try to argue that perhaps the radar gun picked up someone else rather than me. (I would probably have to be really desperate before trying this ... arguing with a cop is usually a bad idea.)
Also, it kind of depends on the state's laws. Many states have a stipulation saying "a maximum design speed of no more than 30mph." Well, it wasn't DESIGNED to go more than 30, was it? No, it wasn't. You just modified the design, that's all. It's a little harder in Kansas because the statute says, "The capability of a maximum design speed of no more than 30 miles per hour." I'd probably still play the semantics game and say, "It was designed to have a maximum speed capability of 30mph. I just enhanced that design." I don't think I have much to worry about, though. I can't exceed the posted speed limit on a lot of the roads I ride on, so there shouldn't be much need to aim a radar gun at me.
Re: Penalty for moped going faster than 30mph.
Technically if they found out that you modified the engine they have the right to impound it because it's no longer street legal...
The thing is, they won't because no one in their right mind would tell them. There is no way for them to tell if your shit is stock or not... Even if they were smart enough to know you had a different than stock pipe on it, just tell them it's an after market to replace your broken original... Also, don't get caught riding faster than 30 if you are that worried about it.
Even if you had a MC license, the fact would remain that your shit is illegally registered as a moped.
Re: Penalty for moped going faster than 30mph.
It's regional...I've ridden in Boston on a magnum going above 30, no problems. Now take another example...
There was a thread on a regional message board here in Boston about a girl on a scoot riding through Arlington, MA - it was all stock 50cc, but she was going about 40 I think. Speed limit in town was 35 in a city where they know their bikes. She got pulled over and slapped with the following:
- Exceeding the posted speed limit (No questions there)
- Driving without a license (meaning since it violated the speed restriction, she should have had motorcycle license)
- Driving an inproperly regestered vehicle (meaning it should have been registered as a motorcycle since it was exceeding the maximum speed)
- Driving without insurance (since she didn't register it as a motorcycle and therefor wasn't required to obtain it with the current registration)
She was made to walk her bike home, which was about a mile away. She's fortunate that they didn't impound the scoot! So once again, it boils down to the area in which you ride. Some cops, like the ones in Boston, really have better things to do than to catch people going 5mph over the speed limit; others who are in a smaller town with less things going on have cops that are more than willing to hassle the lower displacement bikes. The way to avoid all the hassle is maintain the speed limit whenever necessary, and be sure to be extra careful in cities that have cops that are a little less busy.
Re: Penalty for moped going faster than 30mph.
The literal truth is, yes, you CAN get in trouble for it, the penalty would depend on where you live, what the rules are, the cop that stopped you, and the judge. In reality, the chances of your getting stopped are extremely small. I have one moped that goes 43, and am building another that will hopefully go faster than that. Cops are far more likely to notice a vehicle movibg slower than other traffic, than one keeping pace with other traffic. If you are going the same speed as all other traffic, you just sort of blend in with them. If, on the other hand, you are the only vehicle on the road, you will be a lot more obvious. I'd say the best answer is to just use common sense. Most people have this, although I have met a few that didn't. Peace. Jerry.
Re: Penalty for moped going faster than 30mph.
Thanks guys. I appreciate all the feedback, plus I like the fact that it is for the most part what I was hoping to hear. Also, my 50cc is all-stock and the company gave me a title that specifically states that it has a 29mph speed limit, so I guess they are more guilty of forging documents than I am of riding a bike that goes a little too fast.
Re: Penalty for moped going faster than 30mph.
Re: Penalty for moped going faster than 30mph.
25? as in 25 mph? You've got to be kidding. I just ordered almost $400 worth of speed parts. I sure hope they aren't like that around here. Peace. Jerry.
Re: Penalty for moped going faster than 30mph.
So did you go to court? Ohio has 25MPH law too, but they register any moped.
Re: Penalty for moped going faster than 30mph.
thanks for the heads up about the Arlington cops. I live in Arlington and I know for a fact that my moby can hit 30 easy and 35 going down a good hill, and Arlington has a few of them. In fact, I'll bet I tweaked past 40 heading down Park Ave from the water tower once or twice. Of course, in order to get to the top of Park Ave I almost have to walk the bugger up, 50L not 50V :(
I got pulled over when I was in high school, I rode a Sebring (?) which had a motorcycle style gas tank. The officer would NOT believe that it was a moped and I didn't have a MC license so I was looking at some trouble. In fact, I think I just had a permit back then. I finally convinced him by pointing out that the speedo didn't exceed 25mph and he let me go.
What's really weird, and a bit off topic, is all the 100cc, 150cc scooters I see around with moped registration stickers and no MC plates. I've seen 3 this week. How the heck are they getting away with that?
Re: Penalty for moped going faster than 30mph.
Damn, that cop in Arlington had a lot of time on his hands.
Re: Penalty for moped going faster than 30mph.
there engines r covered and they just stay with traffic
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tuscadero, you live right across from a park right? I think I've seen your bike parked in the same spot on my way back from Concord a number of times...
Yeah, those guys can get away with it because 1. A bunch of dealers are not registering new bikes properly for the owner and 2. There's no real way to tell how big the engine is - a new vespa LT50 looks exactly like a Grantourismo, so it gets overlooked.
Re: Penalty for moped going faster than 30mph.
if your goin 40 you have time to spot any popo speed traps, who probably wont pull you over anyway. dont worry about it
Re: Penalty for moped going faster than 30mph.
I haven't read the other responses here so please forgive me if I add anything redundant.
Most of this depends on the laws of the state in which you live and ride. Here in Ohio for example, the speed limit for mopeds regardless of build, make or model is 20 mph. Further there are other laws governing mopeds as well. For example if your moped exceeds "1 braking h.p.) then it can NOT be registered (legally) as a moped...it has to be registered as a motorcycle.
Now that said, if you are riding safely and responsibly, in most cases the cops will leave you alone. Generally their biggest concern is people who are being unsafe. My Ciao tops out at around 28 mph and in the 25+ years I've owned it, I've never been pulled over here in Ohio. However again depending on local laws they may very well be within the rights of the law to pull you over, ticket you and even impound the bike. KNOW YOUR LOCAL LAWS.
It's also worth mentioning that if you're that concerned with this, it also may just be better for you to simply get your moped registered as a motorcycle instead. That way the cops can't really say anything either way as long as you stay off the highways.
Peace,
Jim
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