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Opening Arguments

Vroom, vroom

The Indiana Supreme Court tackles the mo-ped/motorized bike confusion:

State law prohibits motorists with suspended driving privileges from getting back on the road, but an Indiana man is arguing that the mo-ped he rode down a state highway at 42 miles an hour isn't covered by the law.

His argument, disputed by police and prosecutors, is the basis for a case that the Indiana Supreme Court is scheduled to take up today.

The court's ruling, regardless of what it is, will likely impact the thousands of Hoosiers who drive mo-peds, scooters and other motor bikes that fall into a murky area of the law. And it will likely trigger some kind of legislative action to ramp up regulations on a largely unregulated form of transportation.

It's the "largely unregulated" part that's troubling, since anytime you see an adult on one it's probably because that person lost his driver's license because of a DUI. Those things are annoying and dangerous enough when they're not operated by someone who has demonstrated faulty judgment. How about changing state law to make having a suspended license a disqualifer for operating anything motorized? Taking the bus can be a character builder.

Comments

Harl Delos
Fri, 04/20/2012 - 11:09am

Taking the bus is really a character builder if you live in Woodburn and you're trying to get to a job in St. Joe.

But I think "motorized" is the wrong criteria.  Last time I followed a non-motorized vehicle late on a Thursday night, I suspect the fellow was asleep, and unfortunately, the horse might have known the way home, but he took hishalf out of the center of the road, and didn't understand what red octagons meant.

When I see someone on a moped, I immediately know not to expect much of the driver.  Or, for that matter, when I follow a Gleaner.  It's that guy in a 3-year-old BMW who has about as much regard for traffic laws as a horse that scares me.

I'd be happy to let drunk drivers continue to drive - let's face it, driving is essential to survival - as long as they a special warning light on their vehicle.  If I know, I've got plenty of opportunity to head for a ditch. 

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