Lawmakers differ on changing moped laws

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE)  On Monday morning, a moped driver was killed in Huntington County after he hit a Jeep on U.S. 24.  The driver was then run over by a semi.  Two area lawmakers agree something needs to change in Indiana's moped laws, but disagree on what.

The past couple years, state lawmakers have been trying to make the laws tougher on folks riding a moped.  Currently drivers don't have to have a license, registration, or insurance to drive them on state roads.

The driver of Monday’s fatal moped crash had a pending OWI charge in Huntington County.  He had a personal identification card from California, and was pulling onto a 60 mile an hour highway on a moped that legally should only go 25 miles an hour.  Yet everything there is legal.

That led 15 Finds Out to area ask area lawmakers if moped laws need to change in Indiana.  State Representative David Wolkins of Kosciusko County (R-District 18) is hesitant.  He said in the last legislative session, he helped shoot down legislation that would require moped drivers to have a license, registration, and insurance.

“They can't get the insurance.  The developmentally disabled cannot get it.  The DUI guy cannot get it.  So if that is a requirement then you're taking those people totally off the road and I would still oppose that,” Wolkins said.  “You're not going to get them off the road.  They're going to get wherever they want to go one way or another, whether they're on a moped or buying a car.  And I'd rather them be riding on a moped than driving a car.”

But State Senator Tom Wyss (R-District 15) disagrees.  Wyss said he's found that insurance companies will give them insurance.  He also thinks requiring a license and insurance would help regulate hazardous moped drivers.

“Mopeds, we just don't have enough regulation of them,” Wyss said.  “You hate to use that term regulation, but if they're going to travel on the highways of our roads, then they should have some kind of a responsibility and I think having insurance is a big part of that responsibility.”

Legislators have shot down increased moped regulation the past couple years.  Both Wyss and Wolkins think it's likely the legislation will be brought up once again in the upcoming session.