HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2264        FILED ON: 2/17/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3736

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Joseph W. McGonagle, Jr.

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to mopeds and scooters operating on public ways.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2264        FILED ON: 2/17/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3736

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act relative to mopeds and scooters operating on public ways.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 1 of chapter 90 of the General Laws, as most recently amended by section 1 of chapter 122 of the acts of 2019, is hereby amended by striking out the definition “Motorized bicycle” and inserting in place thereof the following definition:-

“Motorized bicycle” or “moped”, a pedal bicycle which has a helper motor, or a non-pedal bicycle which has a motor, with a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cubic centimeters, an automatic transmission, and which can operate at a speed between 15 and 30 miles per hour.

SECTION 2. Said section 1 of said chapter 90, as so amended, is hereby further amended by striking out the definition “Motorized scooter” and inserting in place thereof the following definition:-

“Motorized scooter”, any 2 wheeled tandem or 3 wheeled device that has handlebars, is designed to be stood or sat upon by the operator, is powered by an electric or gas powered motor that is capable of propelling the device with or without human propulsion at a speed in excess of 15 miles per hour. A “motorized scooter” shall not include a motorcycle or motorized bicycle or a 3 wheeled motorized wheelchair.

SECTION 3. Said chapter 90, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out section 1D and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 1D. Notwithstanding any other general or special law to the contrary, motorized bicycles and motorized scooters shall be subject to requirements for the registration of motor vehicles as described in section 2. The fee for the registration of a motorized bicycle or motorized scooter shall be as set in clause 2 of section 33. The registrar shall furnish, to every person whose motorized bicycle or motorized scooter is registered under this chapter, 2 number plates of suitable design for display on said motorized bicycle or motorized scooter in accordance with section 6.

The owner or operator of a motorized bicycle or motorized scooter shall carry an insurance policy with minimum coverage of $1,000 prior to operation of said motorized bicycle or motorized scooter.

If an individual operates a motorized bicycle or motorized scooter upon any way or in any place to which the public has a right of access, or any place to which members of the public have access as invitees or licensees, and without stopping and making known their name, residence and the register number of the motorized bicycle or motorized scooter goes away after knowingly colliding with or otherwise causing injury to any other vehicle or property, the owner of said motorized bicycle or motorized scooter shall be jointly and severally liable with the operator for said injury.

SECTION 4. Section 6 of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “vehicle”, in line 1, the following words:- , motorized bicycle, motorized scooter.

SECTION 5. Section 9 of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “vehicle”, in line 2, the first time it appears, the following words:- , motorized bicycle, motorized scooter.

SECTION 6. Section 24 of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “vehicle”, in line 896, the following words:- , motorized bicycle or motorized scooter.

SECTION 7. Said section 24 of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “vehicle”, in line 941, the following words:- , motorized bicycle or motorized scooter.

SECTION 8. Said section 24 of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “vehicle”, in line 951, the following words:- , motorized bicycle or motorized scooter.