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This article was difficult to write for a number of reasons. First because I felt I needed to rush things a bit since the new year is fast approaching. Second because the quotes I will be pasting are all from US sources.

As some of you are aware most new laws in the US come into effect on the first day of a new year. This being the case I rushed a little in this article to get this information out before Jan 1.

Please note that none of this information is legal advice or council. Please consult an attourney before doing anything which may or may not break the law.

With the sport of pocketbike racing taking off there have been many reports of riders in the news. Riders have been hit by cars, killed in some cases. Some have been badly injured simply due to careless riding and lack of safety equipment.

These news articles have not gone unnoticed by law enforcement and government. Some states and provinces already have laws regarding pocketbikes or "off road use only" vehicles. Some cities have laws which are too specific so they had to pass laws specifically for pocketbikes.

The bad news is that with Jan 1 fast approaching, many more new laws are going to come into effect. Below are articles I have found in the news lately.

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The New Hampshire Department of Safety has asked the state Legislature to ban motorized scooters and pocket bikes on streets.

La Porte, Texas, restricted the use of motorized scooters to daylight hours and to streets with posted speed limits under 30 mph after two boys lost control of their scooter and were struck and injured by a car.

Lenexa, Kan., stopped short of banning the devices outright. Instead, the City Council voted to allow motorized skateboards on sidewalks but banned them on streets. Pocket bikes and other motorized vehicles are prohibited on all public property.

Monroe, Wash., following the lead of some adjoining communities, passed an ordinance restricting operation of motorized scooters to those ages 16 and older. The scooters can be used only during daylight hours, and riders must wear helmets.

Several Arizona communities, including Tempe, Chandler and Mesa, have considered banning motorized scooters. Both Phoenix and Tucson outlawed them last year.

California
AB 1051 provides a definition of a pocket bike and requires the manufacturer to let prospective buyers know, in writing, where one may not be operated. Pocket bikes, which are miniature motorcycles, are illegal to ride on public streets. Additionally, the new law specifies that pocket bikes seized by law enforcement will be held for a minimum of 48 hours and will be released only after appropriate fees have been paid.

New Hampshire
Pocket bikes are also banned from the road.

Maryland
To parents buying flashy pocket bikes for their children this holiday season, here's a heads-up before you swipe that credit card: You may soon have to register the vehicles.

The consequence for riding pocket bikes illegally on Prince George's County streets and sidewalks is a fine of up to $500. Under the bill, riders who don't register their bikes with the county are subject to a fine of $100 for the first violation, $250 for the second and $500 for each succeeding violation.

Registration - which would cost $40 and must be renewed every two years - must be in the name of a parent or guardian if the owner is younger than 18.

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Those are just some of the articles I found. This does not mean if you are not in the above states that you have no issues. For instance in Winnipeg you can be charged with driving an unregistered vehicle. When you are driving an unregistered vehicle your drivers license is automatically invalidated. So you also get the tickets for driving without a license, and driving without drivers license insurance. These tickets come out to close to $1000 and around 10 demerits. (This is old information, it could have changed by now. I will update this article when I get definite info)

As you read in the news articles some cities are confiscating bikes as well. And possibly impounding them. Impound isn't cheap either, last I heard it was $15 per day and some cities have a minimum impound time.

So is it worth it to ride your bike on the street? Sure it's fun and entertaining. But in most parts of North America it's now illegal. You could also be fined for not wearing proper safety gear (typically just a helmet).

The reason there are laws now is because a few have spoiled things for the many. Now I'm not saying pocketbikes should ride in traffic with cars, but there can be times when it is safe to ride on the streets. Now it's only safe when there are no cars, and no cops (just kidding).

Play smart, go to a track near you and support them. By supporting them they can stay open so riders have a legal and safe place to go. Without them we're just going to hear more stories in the news about kids being killed.

This article was written by Bruce Peresky for pocketbikeforum.com. Copying is permitted provided you give credit to http://www.pocketbikeforum.com

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melaire

How do i register my pocket bike in california. Give some info on registration.