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05-30-12, 12:09 PM
So before i spend a ton of money on this bike (http://www.stealthelectricbikesusa.com/) I thought that I would make sure I was allowed to ride it on the side of the road. This is what i got for a response. They pretty much don't have any idea if i'm allowed to ride it to work.
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"Thank you for contacting the Motorcycle Safety Program about the electric bicycle you are considering purchasing. Ideally you should contact the Maryland State Police or local law enforcement to see if this type of vehicle can be operated on public roadways.
It might be considered a Moped as described under Maryland Vehicle Law Section 11-134.1 since it has pedals. To operate this type of vehicle you must have a license of some class or a moped operator's permit."
Regards.
Motorcycle Safety Program
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I am Corporal Mills with the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office Traffic Safety Unit and we have received your e-mail in reference to the requirements for Stealth Electric Bikes. You are absolutely right in reference to this bike being in a gray area of the law. We are not familiar with them but just in reviewing some of the specs and the abilities the bikes have I am leaning toward them needing to be registered. In the response the company even provided on it's forum & blogs it states "Similar to two stroke motor cycles in the U.S." which would lead me to believe it would need to be registered like any other motor cycle utilized on the highway. In reviewing the specs and other data on the bikes some of them can travel approximately 50 mph which is another factor that leads me to believe it would be required to be registered.
Highway - is edge of asphalt to edge of asphalt which includes the shoulder.
Roadway - is white line to white line.
The bikes may under ones interpretations fall under scooter laws, however effective October 1, 2012 it appears the Maryland Legislature will be passing a new law requiring all scooters to be registered. I will forward the information onto the Office of the Attorney General to get an opinion but I am unsure how long that would take to get a response, in the mean time you may want to contact MVA who is the final authority on registration requirements. Additionally, I will reach out to the local State's Attorney's Office to get an opinion from them as well. Once I receive the responses from the Office of the Attorney General and local State's Attorney's Office I will forward their responses. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact me.
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"Thank you for contacting the Motorcycle Safety Program about the electric bicycle you are considering purchasing. Ideally you should contact the Maryland State Police or local law enforcement to see if this type of vehicle can be operated on public roadways.
It might be considered a Moped as described under Maryland Vehicle Law Section 11-134.1 since it has pedals. To operate this type of vehicle you must have a license of some class or a moped operator's permit."
Regards.
Motorcycle Safety Program
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am Corporal Mills with the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office Traffic Safety Unit and we have received your e-mail in reference to the requirements for Stealth Electric Bikes. You are absolutely right in reference to this bike being in a gray area of the law. We are not familiar with them but just in reviewing some of the specs and the abilities the bikes have I am leaning toward them needing to be registered. In the response the company even provided on it's forum & blogs it states "Similar to two stroke motor cycles in the U.S." which would lead me to believe it would need to be registered like any other motor cycle utilized on the highway. In reviewing the specs and other data on the bikes some of them can travel approximately 50 mph which is another factor that leads me to believe it would be required to be registered.
Highway - is edge of asphalt to edge of asphalt which includes the shoulder.
Roadway - is white line to white line.
The bikes may under ones interpretations fall under scooter laws, however effective October 1, 2012 it appears the Maryland Legislature will be passing a new law requiring all scooters to be registered. I will forward the information onto the Office of the Attorney General to get an opinion but I am unsure how long that would take to get a response, in the mean time you may want to contact MVA who is the final authority on registration requirements. Additionally, I will reach out to the local State's Attorney's Office to get an opinion from them as well. Once I receive the responses from the Office of the Attorney General and local State's Attorney's Office I will forward their responses. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact me.