State Scooter Rules Rattle Some Riders
Insurance Required For Some Scooters, None On Others
POSTED: 5:55 pm CDT August 1,
2008
UPDATED: 11:02 am CDT August 2,
2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A record number of middle Tennessee residents are buying motorized scooters to save money, but some are confused by the state’s scooter rules.
Video: Regulations Rattle Some Scooter OwnersSome dealers are reporting back orders on scooters that will take months to fill, but should non-scooter drivers care?Most new scooter owners are doing it to save money, but if they don't comply with the law, they could face financial ruin.David McPeak said he loves his Vespa. He said it’s a fun way to travel, plus it gets 110 miles per gallon."It’s nice to just be able to jump on the scooter, run down to Wal-Mart, to the Kroger’s, to the pharmacy or wherever you might need to go on pennies instead of dollars," he said.McPeak had never owned a scooter before and said he had to research whether or not he needed a special license, registration, tags and insurance.He said he got different answers from different places that he called."They told me, 'You don’t need tags. You don’t need to register it. You don’t need anything; no insurance.' And I was like, 'Yeah!'" he said.He said the county clerk gave him different information and that he later got different information from the Department of Safety.After all the different answers, Channel 4’s Dennis Ferrier took McPeak’s question to Metro's top traffic officer, Sgt. Jeff Keeter."For practically everyone you’ll see on the roadway, they need a license, registration, and insurance," he said.The rules on scooter insurance can be a bit tedious.If the scooter is less than 50cc, drivers don't need registration, license or insurance unless it has more than two horsepower.If a scooter goes over 30 mph, it doesn't matter what the horsepower is, because riders need all insurance, registration and a license.In the end, everything out there but a motorized skateboard needs all three and especially insurance. If a scooter driver gets into a crash and is found to be at fault and has no insurance, he or she could be in a tight spot."When they sue you and try to take what property you have, then, yes, you’ve put yourself into a real bind," Keeter said.If a rider is involved in a minor crash and has no insurance, the driver loses his or her regular driver's license.
Video: Regulations Rattle Some Scooter OwnersSome dealers are reporting back orders on scooters that will take months to fill, but should non-scooter drivers care?Most new scooter owners are doing it to save money, but if they don't comply with the law, they could face financial ruin.David McPeak said he loves his Vespa. He said it’s a fun way to travel, plus it gets 110 miles per gallon."It’s nice to just be able to jump on the scooter, run down to Wal-Mart, to the Kroger’s, to the pharmacy or wherever you might need to go on pennies instead of dollars," he said.McPeak had never owned a scooter before and said he had to research whether or not he needed a special license, registration, tags and insurance.He said he got different answers from different places that he called."They told me, 'You don’t need tags. You don’t need to register it. You don’t need anything; no insurance.' And I was like, 'Yeah!'" he said.He said the county clerk gave him different information and that he later got different information from the Department of Safety.After all the different answers, Channel 4’s Dennis Ferrier took McPeak’s question to Metro's top traffic officer, Sgt. Jeff Keeter."For practically everyone you’ll see on the roadway, they need a license, registration, and insurance," he said.The rules on scooter insurance can be a bit tedious.If the scooter is less than 50cc, drivers don't need registration, license or insurance unless it has more than two horsepower.If a scooter goes over 30 mph, it doesn't matter what the horsepower is, because riders need all insurance, registration and a license.In the end, everything out there but a motorized skateboard needs all three and especially insurance. If a scooter driver gets into a crash and is found to be at fault and has no insurance, he or she could be in a tight spot."When they sue you and try to take what property you have, then, yes, you’ve put yourself into a real bind," Keeter said.If a rider is involved in a minor crash and has no insurance, the driver loses his or her regular driver's license.Copyright 2009 by WSMV.com. All rights reserved.
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