Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What can you sue for in a personal injury case?”
A North Carolina Senate committed has added language to a piece of legislation that will now require drivers of mopeds to purchase liability insurance before legally operating the vehicles on state roadways. The measure, House Bill 1145, has already been approved by the house, though the new language will need to be agreed to before the bill progresses any further.
The language attached by the Senate says that moped drivers are required to register their vehicles with the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles, in addition to purchasing liability coverage. Moped drivers will have until July 1, 2015 to comply with the new regulations.
Under current North Carolina law, mopeds are not among those vehicles that must be registered or insured in the state. Mopeds are also not subject to any property taxes, allowing owners to essentially avoid any fees associated with their use.
The new measure would require moped owners to pay a $15 registration fee as well as demonstrate to the Division of Motor Vehicles that the moped was designed and manufactured specifically for highway use. These requirements mirror those for motorcyclists, something that some legislators believe is necessary to guarantee the safety of all North Carolina motorists.
Legislators say that moped are involved in increasing numbers of accidents and even in some crimes. By registering the vehicles with a state agency it would make it much easier to track and identify those involved in a theft or crash. Given how inexpensive mopeds are, it’s become increasingly attractive for those without other forms of transportation to consider buying a moped to get around town and other relatively close destinations. The problem is that this has resulted in a rise of reports of mopeds inflicting damage on others, either other vehicles or other property.
Because mopeds are not currently required to be insured, this means that even those drivers who are innocent in an accident may not be able to collect damages from those on moped who have no ability to pay.
Though some have argued that the bill will add unnecessary expenses to those operating mopeds, others point out that the additional increase in insurance will be minimal. Experts say that premiums for experienced moped owners could cost around $65 annually, a small price to pay to ensure that other motorists are protected.
If you, or someone you know, have any questions regarding personal injury claims, please feel free to contact the experienced personal injury attorneys and lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina at Arnold & Smith, PLLC for a free consultation. Call at 704-370-2828 or click here for additional resources.
About the Author:
Matthew Arnold is a Managing Member of Arnold & Smith, PLLC, where he focuses on the areas of family law, divorce, child custody, child support, alimony and equitable distribution.
Mr. Arnold was raised in Charlotte, where he graduated from Providence Senior High School. He attended Belmont Abbey College, where he graduated cum laude, before attending law school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a full academic scholarship.
In his free time, Mr. Arnold enjoys golfing and spending time with his wife and three children.
Source:
“Senate committee adds liability insurance to moped insurance,” by Katy Canada, published at NewsObserver.com.
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