Do You Have To Register A 50cc Scooter In Massachusetts

PETER PEREIRA/The Standard-Times A man on a scooter makes his way up MacArthur Drive in New Bedford's waterfront district. Police issued a reminder last week that scooters and mopeds must be driven by licensed drivers.

NEW BEDFORD — Unlicensed operators are ownership mopeds as a way to drive to work and get around while also avoiding traffic patrols which rarely cease them, according to police.

"It'south a huge problem," New Bedford Law Sgt. Jill Simmons said of unlicensed operators who drive mopeds and scooters when their licenses are suspended.

Simmons added she regularly sees moped operators on the road and recognizes them as people who don't take valid driver's licenses.

"It's a way to get cheap transportation, but also to stay out of the crosshairs of the police," who mostly don't terminate moped drivers as role of their patrols, she said.

Massachusetts law requires a commuter to have a valid license to drive a moped, according to Sara Lavoie, a spokeswoman for the country's Registry of Motor Vehicles.

While unlicensed operators illegally driving mopeds is a problem in New Bedford, several other constabulary departments on SouthCoast said they either haven't seen information technology or they experienced it in the by and it is not an issue now.

Lt. Kevin Walsh, public information officer for the Wareham Police Department, said they had a problem with unlicensed operators driving mopeds years ago, only it's not a issue at present. "It's subsided pretty much," he said.

But Simmons said it's probably not an obvious effect in many communities because they, like New Bedford, don't regularly stop mopeds and cheque licenses.

Joseph Vieira, prophylactic officeholder for the Dartmouth Constabulary Department, said it is a common joke in constabulary enforcement circles that when police run into an adult driving a scooter, chances are their license has been suspended.

Karen Dugan, owner of Archie's Bike and Scooter Service, said she sees the issue unfold regularly in her shop on Ashley Boulevard, New Bedford.

She said she receives a couple of inquiries a week from predominately adult males who want to buy a moped because their license has been suspended.

She said some don't bring upwardly the fact that they have a suspended license at the outset of the chat, simply information technology comes out equally they're talking.

She said, if she learns a prospective client'southward license has been suspended, she refuses to do business concern with them.

"It's a big misconception that yous don't need a license to ride a scooter," she said, adding that she makes certain she mentions the requirement to every customer.

"I always tell them to check the Registry of Motor Vehicles' Web site for the laws of Massachusetts," she said.

She said a practiced, quality moped costs between $2,000 and $2,500.

Lavoie said individuals may not apply a moped every bit an culling means of transportation if their license is suspended because state law prohibits operation of a moped on a public way unless the operator has either a learner's permit or a valid license.

She added that the RMV isn't aware of any trends among dealers offering mopeds every bit an alternate means of send for those with a suspended license.

She said information technology would be false information if dealers advertised mopeds every bit alternative ways of transportation because such operations would be a violation of land law.

She said a moped or a motorized bicycle is a pedal bike with a helper motor or a non-petal bicycle with a motor.

She said its maximum speed must be 30 mph or lower and it tin't exist driven faster than 25 mph. Its cylinder capacity must be 50 cubic centimeters or less and information technology has to have an automated manual.

She said moped owners are required to complete a registration application, which has to exist filed in person at a RMV branch. The registration services aren't online or via mail, she said.

Owners receive a numbered sticker that goes on the rear of the moped and serves as the moped's license plate, according to Lavoie.

She said at that place are 4,569 registered mopeds in the state.

Lavoie said there is no insurance requirement, just moped operators must wear a helmet and take the registration with them when they operate their moped.