This is the first of many posts and will improve over time hopefully, thank you for bearing with me
Maryland
House Bill 1167 - LAW
Defines motorized passenger scooter
Allows licensed operator to operate motorized passenger scooter on local hwys. & state hwys.
designated as bicycle ways in Ocean City, MD. Defines “motorized passenger scooter” as nonpedal vehicle with
cockpit & seat for operator & passenger; 3 wheels of which one is 10” or more in diameter; has motor with rating
of 2.7 brake hp or less or if motor is internal combustion engine with capacity of 50 cc piston displacement or
less; & equipped with automatic transmission. Excludes vehicle that has been mfrd. for off-road use, including
motorcycles & ATVs.
4/4/11 Passed House
4/11/11 Passed Senate
5/10/11 Approved by Governor
Senate Bill 306 - LAW
Defines motorized passenger scooter
Allows licensed operator to operate motorized passenger scooter on local hwys. & state hwys.
designated as bicycle ways in Ocean City, MD. Defines “motorized passenger scooter” as nonpedal vehicle with
cockpit & seat for operator & passenger; 3 wheels of which one is 10” or more in diameter; has motor with rating
of 2.7 brake hp or less or if motor is internal combustion engine with capacity of 50 cc piston displacement or
less; & equipped with automatic transmission. Excludes vehicle that has been mfrd. for off-road use, including
motorcycles & ATVs.
3/24/11 Passed Senate
4/4/11 Passed House
5/10/11 Approved by Governor
House Bill 685 - Failed to Pass
Requires motorcycle to be inspected & insured prior to registration.
Requires motorcycle to be inspected & insured prior to registration. Requires registration & inspection to take
place during same month.
House Bill 250 - Failed to Pass
Requires motor scooter & moped riders under 18 to wear helmets
Requires motor scooter & moped operators & passengers under age 18 to wear helmets. [Currently no helmet
rqmt. for motor scooter or moped riders.]
House Bill 274 - Failed to Pass
Requires helmets for rental motor scooters & mopeds
Requires person who rents motor scooters or mopeds to provide operator & any rider with helmets that meet
standards established by Administrator.
House Bill 961 - Failed to Pass
Requires motor scooter registration; exempts from inspection
Amends motor vehicle definition to include motor scooters. Requires motor scooters to be registered as Class S
vehicles; registration fee: $35/yr. Exempts motor scooters from inspection requirement. [Motor scooter: no pedals;
2 wheels, one of which is more than 10” in diameter; 2.7 bhp or less; 50 cc or less; automatic transmission.]
House Bill 1282 - LAW
Requires certain parking facilities to allow motorcycles
Requires vehicle parking facilities owned, operated or leased by MD or political subdivision of MD or facilities
that receives funding from MD or political subdivision of MD to allow motorcycles to park in facilities, subject to
certain charges.
3/25/11 Passed House
4/11/11 Passed Senate
5/10/11 Approved by Governor
Senate Bill 708 - Failed to Pass
Requires moped/motor scooter registration; helmet/eye protection
Amended. Amends motor vehicle definition to include mopeds & motor scooters. Requires mopeds & motor
scooters to be registered as Class S vehicles; registration fee: $35/yr. Requires helmets & eye protection or
windscreen for moped & motor scooter operators & passengers. Exempts mopeds & motor scooters from
inspection requirement. Provides that in case of mopeds & motor scooters, insurer may exclude economic loss
benefits or offer economic loss benefits with deductibles, options or specific exclusions (same as currently
allowed for motorcycles). [Motor scooter: no pedals; 2 wheels, one of which is more than 10” in diameter; 2.7 bhp
or less; 50 cc or less; automatic transmission. Motorized bicycle/moped: pedals; 2 or 3 wheels, of which one is
more than 14” in diameter; 1.5 bhp or less; 50 cc or less.]
Virginia
House Bill 1618 - Failed to Pass
Allows city govt. to prohibit moped operation on hwys. with speed limit above 45 mph. [Moped: seat no less than
24" in height; less than 50 cc; pedals not required.]
House Bill 2374 - LAW
Amends moped definition to provide that moped is a motorcycle when operated over 35 mph. [Current moped
definition: seat no less than 24" in height; less than 50 cc; pedals not required.]
2/1/11 Passed House
2/15/11 Passed Senate
3/15/11 Approved by Governor
Senate Bill 740 - Failed to Pass
Allows Dept. of Transportation to close certain bridges, as specified, to use by motorcycles & mopeds during
periods of high wind, determined by National Weather Service.
Status: Withdrawn from further consideration in Senate
Senate Bill 1086 - Failed to Pass
Excludes electric vehicles from motor vehicle sales & use tax
Excludes qualified plug-in electric drive vehicles from motor vehicle sales & use tax. Exemption may be claimed
for 1 qualified plug-in electric drive vehicle per individual & 10 per business. Defines qualified plug-in electric
vehicle: 1) made by mfr. & mfrd. for use on public streets, roads & hwys.; 2) 4 tires; 3) has not been modified
from original mfr. specifications; 4) acquired for use & not for resale; 5) rated at 8,500 lbs. unloaded gross vehicle
weight or less; 6) maximum speed capability of 55 mph; 7) propelled to significant extent by electric motor that
draws electricity from battery, which has capacity of not less than 4 kilowatt hrs. & capable of being recharged
from external source of electricity. Also exempts any vehicle titled in name of automotive mfr. having
headquarters in VA from tax & retail sales & use tax
2/7/11 Passed Senate
2/14/11 Failed to pass House
House Bill 1764 - Failed to Pass
Requires moped operators & passengers to wear approved helmet
Requires moped operators & passengers to wear approved helmets. [Under current law, local jurisdictions may,
by ordinance, require moped operators & passengers to wear approved helmets. Moped: seat no less than 24" in
height; less than 50 cc; pedals not required.]
House Bill 1850 - Failed to Pass
Prohibits passengers under age 8
House Bill 1981 - LAW
Permits travel through red light under certain circumstances
Amended. Allows operator of motorcycle or moped approaching intersection controlled by traffic light to proceed
through intersection on steady red light if operator comes to full & complete stop at intersection for 2 complete
cycles of traffic light or for 2 minutes, whichever shorter; exercises due care; otherwise treats traffic control
device as stop sign; determines it is safe to proceed; & yields right of way to driver of any vehicle approaching
such other hwy. from either direction.
1/25/11 Passed House
2/22/11 Passed Senate
3/24/11 Approved by Governor