Scooter, Moped Riders Will Need: Title, Insurance, Protection

This fall, scooter and moped owners will have to have their vehicles titled and insured.

Also, passengers and operators will need a helmet and eye protection, according to a state law that takes effect Oct. 1.

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Already, operators must have a valid driver's license or a moped operator's permit, according to a news release from .

The helmets must meet US Department of Transportation safety standards, it states.

Moped and scooter owners must have minimum vehicle liability insurance. They "must carry proof of the insurance with them whenever they are operating the scooter or moped," the release states.

Get titling information through the MVA website beginning Oct. 1.

Vehicle definitions

Here are details, provided by State Police:

Q: What's a motor scooter?

A: Maryland law says it's "a non-pedal vehicle that has a seat for the operator; has two wheels, of which one is ten or more inches in diameter; has a step-through chassis; has a motor with a rating of 2.7 brake horsepower or less, or a 50 cc engine or less; and is equipped with an automatic transmission," the release states.

Q: What's a moped?

A: "It's a bicycle that is designed to be operated by human power with the assistance of a motor; is equipped with pedals that can drive the rear wheel(s); has two or three wheels, one of which is more than 14 inches in diameter; has a motor with a rating of 1.5 brake horsepower or less and a 50 cc engine or less."

Rules of the road

Bicycle laws apply, the release states.

Drivers must ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practical
and safe as possible, except when:

• Making a left turn
• Operating on a one-way street
• Passing a stopped or slower moving vehicle
• Avoiding pedestrians and road hazards
• The right lane is a right-turn only lane
• Operating in a lane too narrow for a bicycle or motor scooter and another vehicle to travel safely side-by-side

Also:

• Drivers may ride side-by-side only if flow of traffic is unimpeded
• Drivers must exercise due care when passing
• Headsets covering both ears, or earplugs in both ears, are not permitted
• Scooters or mopeds may not be operated on roadways with speed limits greater than 50 mph
• Scooters or mopeds may not be operated at more than 30 mph
• Drivers may not operate on a roadway where there is a smooth paved bike lane or paved shoulder available, meaning they must use the bike lane or paved shoulder instead of the roadway
• Drivers must obey the rules of the road applicable to all vehicles

Scooter and moped drivers who violate the new law will be stopped and issued traffic citations or warnings beginning Oct. 1, the release states.