PRESS RELEASE From: Police Department Contact: Public Information Officer, Lt. Malcolm Dupre Date: December 3, 2003
City of Thibodaux 1309 Canal Blvd. Thibodaux, LA 70301 985-446-7214
New Scooters
With the introduction of the “new” electric and gaspowered scooters hitting the markets, the Thibodaux Police Department wishes toinform parents, or buyers of these scooters, of the Louisiana State Lawsgoverning the use of these “Motor Driven Cycles”, which are consideredmotorcycles in Louisiana.Thefollowing definitions are given to explain these scooters: (Taken from theLouisiana Highway Regulatory Act R.S. 32:1 Definitions)
“Motorcycle” means everymotor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed totravel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding atractor and excluding a motorized bicycle.
“Motor Driven Cycle” means every motor drivencycle, including every motor scooter, with a motor of not exceed fivehorsepower.
“Motor Vehicle” means every vehicle which is selfpropelled… but excluding a motorized bicycle.
“Motorized Bicycle” means a pedal bicycle whichmay be propelled by human power or helper motor, or by both, with a motor ratedno more than one and a half brake horsepower, with a cylinder capacity of nomore than fifty cubic centimeters, an automatic transmission, and which producesa maximum designed speed of no more than twenty-five miles per hour on a flatsurface.
Thismeans that these scooters are considered as “Motor Vehicles” in the State ofLouisiana.This also means that allmotor vehicles and their operators must be licensed to be operated on statehighways and the streets of Thibodaux.Toquote the Louisiana Highway Regulatory Act again:
“ R.S. 32:51”: No person shall operate, or permitto be operated, any motor vehicle upon the highways of this state unless it isregistered with the commissioner, the license tax is paid thereon, and it isoperated in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 1 of the Louisiana HighwayRegulatory Act and other laws of this state.
“R.S. 32:52”: No person shall drive or operateany vehicle upon any highway within this state unless and until he has beenissued a license to so do as required by the laws of this state nor shall anyperson permit or allow any other person to drive or operate any vehicle owned orcontrolled by him upon highways of this state unless and until such other personhas been issued a license to do so as required by the laws of this state.
UnderR.S. 32:408, dealing with the licensing of operators of motorcycles and motordriven cycles, these licenses shall have an endorsement which shall be made onlyafter the applicant has taken and successfully passed tests specificallydesigned for the operation of such vehicles.
TheCity of Thibodaux adopted, in its Traffic Section of the City Ordinances,Section 20, all of the State Highway Regulatory Acts.The same rules that apply to the operation of vehicles onstate highways also apply to the operation of vehicles on all streets in theCity of Thibodaux.
ThibodauxPolice Department urges parents and guardians to be aware of and to study theselaws carefully before the consideration of purchasing motorized scooters foryour children.
2008
