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Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Ind. Law - "Mo-ped crashes expose Indiana's lax laws"

"Mo-ped crashes expose Indiana's lax laws: In 2004, of 48 mo-ped accident deaths nationwide, 10 happened in Indiana" is the headline to a story today by Nick Werner in the Muncie Star-Press. Some quotes:

Under Indiana law, mo-ped drivers must be at least 15 years old and have a state-issued identification to identify the rider in case of an accident. Drivers and riders under 18 also must wear a helmet.

Compared to surrounding states, Indiana has the most lax mo-ped regulations, causing some authorities to wonder whether Indiana's freewheeling attitude toward the vehicle has helped make the state a leader in mo-ped-related fatal accidents. In 2004, Indiana accounted for 10 of 48 fatal mo-ped accidents in the United States, second only to Florida, according to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. * * *

Indiana State Police Sgt. Rod Russell attributed the carnage not to any inherent danger in mo-peds, but to the fact that the crash victims were in most cases disregarding traffic laws. Youth and ignorance are often contributing factors, Russell said.

"To ride a mo-ped in Indiana, you don't have to have safety education," Russell said.

Mo-ped operators in Ohio, Kentucky and Michigan must have either a standard driver's license or a special mo-ped license. Obtaining a special mo-ped license in these states requires at least the passage of standard traffic knowledge and vision tests. In Ohio, mo-ped riders as young as 14 can be licensed but undergo a probationary period until age 16. During that period, authorities can revoke their license for just one traffic violation.

In Illinois, riders must have a valid driver's license. * * *

Enforcing Hoosier mo-ped laws can be difficult because violators are often under the age of 15, too young to be cited into city court.

During increased enforcement throughout the summer, however, Muncie police plan to ticket parents.

"According to the law, they are held responsible, and that is the way we are going to address it," Sgt. Brad Arey of the MPD's traffic division said.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on July 11, 2006 08:42 AM
Posted to Indiana Law