Rules of the Road for Scooters
Motorized scooters, or mopeds, as they used to be called,
are becoming more popular in the Springfield area. The Police Department
frequently receives questions about the license requirements for the vehicles
and their drivers. The scooters are not required to be licensed with the
state (because they are considered motorized bicycles) as long as they
are under 50cc's in size, are not capable of going more than 30 miles
an hour on level ground, and have an automatic transmission. Because they
are not considered motorcycles their riders are not required to wear a
helmet or to have a motorcycle license. The scooters are classified as
motor vehicles and the drivers of all motor vehicles are required to have
a valid driver's license to operate them on public streets.
There have been several serious accidents in the past several years involving these scooters. Most involve kids riding and striking either moving or parked vehicles. This photo was taken this summer with the accident being caused by a 14-year-old girl disobeying a stop sign and running into the side of a passing pickup. She was lucky and only needed a few stitches but it could have been much worse. Please obey the law, wear a helmet, and be careful.
