The new year has brought new laws for mo-ped owners. Previously, anything fewer than 50 cubic centimeters did not require a license or insurance; but as of Jan. 1 anyone who owns a mo-ped – which will now be referred to as “motor-driven cycles” by police – must register it with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. State Rep. David Wolkins said that motor-driven cycle owners do not need a license or insurance to register it. He said this new law will be a positive thing for law enforcement and the owners because now the police will have a way to determine who owns the motor-driven cycle and how many are on the road. He said for the past four years there have been bills to require licenses to own a motor-driven cycle. This year, Wolkins said he made a compromise to only require registration. “A majority of [motor-driven cycle] drivers out there right now cannot get insurance because they do not have licenses,” Wolkins said. “That’s why they’re riding them, it’s not for the wind in their face, it is because they have no other way of transportation.” Wolkins also said the speed limit, which was raised from 25 miles per hour to 35 mph, will be a positive change, but the new law overall isn’t much different. Owners must register their motor-driven cycle with the BMV and pass a written sign test. “I think overall [the new law] is a good thing,” Wolkins said. “Those with DUI’s, it’s their only way of transportation and if they lose that privilege they could lose their jobs, and I didn’t want to happen.” Warsaw Police Dept. Public Information Officer Kip Shuter said before this law, it was difficult for the WPD to enforce anything with motor-driven cycles. Now, he said the speed limit can be regulated and the cycles are broken up into two different classes. Class A is anything that exceeds 51 cubic centimeters and with these the driver must be licensed and insured. Class B is anything less than 50 cubic centimeters, cannot exceed a speed limit of 35 miles per hour, must be registered and plated, but insurance and a license is not necessary. Shuter said the new law would be a positive for the WPD. “It helps us to enforce laws that weren’t there,” Shuter said.
