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Opening Arguments

Mo-ped madness

So, Mr. smartypants libertarian who would like to eliminate a lot of laws, is there a new law you could support? Actually, something to regulate mo-peds would be worth discussing:

In just over a month, three area residents have suffered serious injuries in a wave of mo-ped crashes in Greater Lafayette.

A  fourth suffered minor injuries when her mo-ped was struck by a truck.

None of the riders was wearing helmets. According to state law, they didn't have to wear them. They didn't even need licenses or training to operate them.

Area motorcycle experts seem to agree on the need for some type of legislation to toughen the requirements to operate mo-peds in Indiana.

"It's to the point where we've got to do something," said Jay Jackson of rural Attica, executive director of the Indiana chapter of American Bikers Aimed Toward Education, or ABATE Indiana.

It's a perverse effect of the lack of mo-ped regulations that the people least to be trusted on the road (such as those who have had their licenses yanked and teens as young as 15) are out their buzzing around on one of the least safe vehicles. I

Comments

Bob G.
Fri, 07/02/2010 - 10:04am

Leo:
I think ANY vehicle capable of going 20 MPH (or faster) SHOULD be licensed...
You make a good point about driver's licenses being yanked...so they ride THESE instead.

Impaired is impaired...no matter if you have FOUR wheels under, TWO wheels, or TWO (shaky) FEET!

littlejohn
Fri, 07/02/2010 - 1:32pm

I thought it was common knowledge that most mopeds are ridden by people who have lost their licenses to DUIs. They're the easiest and fastest way to get around without a drivers license.
Full-sized motorcycles are a great deal safer if only because they can keep up with traffic and have effective brakes.
Of course, yanking a license has never kept an adult from driving. They simply drive more conservatively so as not to get pulled over.
The entire drunken driving legal arrangement is probably unconstitutional, since, unless you own a Breathalyser, you have no way of knowing whether you're breaking the law.
Persons driving poorly should be charged with reckless driving, regardless of the cause.
Besides, as the old joke goes, if we're not supposed to drink and drive, why do bars have parking lots? I regard the question as serious, not rhetorical.
And no, I've never gotten a DUI.

Leo Morris
Fri, 07/02/2010 - 2:58pm

Well, I have. Which one of us does that make more qualified to talk about mopeds? And what does the fact that it's common knowledge have to do with whether they're creating danger on the road or not?

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