Legal guidelines for your Veloteq eBike
Veloteq electric bicycles are considered “electric assisted bicycles” under Utah law (41-6a-102).
In Utah an electric assisted bicycle falls under the "moped" category, which means you DO need a driver's license to operate this vehicle but are NOT required to have a motorcycle endorsement (53-3-302-(4)-b).
They are legal for use on roadways, but should be driven like a bicycle--keep a reasonable distance to the right so people can pass you, but do not move so far to the edge that it becomes unsafe for you (see 41-6a-1105). For maximum safety and your own pleasure take the back roads when possible.
Electric assisted bicycles do NOT need to be registered with the state (41-1a-202-(2)-m) and do NOT require insurance policy (41-12a-301)
A bicycle helmet is required if you are under 18 (41-6a-1505).
It is NOT a “motor assisted scooter.” Motor assisted scooters can be operated without a license, but cannot be driven on roads posted greater than 25 mph (41-61-1115)
Keep the pedals on! With pedals it qualifies as an electric assisted bicycle (which is a subcategory of a “moped”), but without pedals it becomes a “motor driven cycle” which requires registration and a motorcycle endorsement!
Excerpts from Utah Traffic Code
41-6a-102 Definitions.
(13) "Electric assisted bicycle" means a moped:
(a) with an electric motor with a power output of not more than 1,000 watts; and
(b) which is not capable of:
(i) propelling the device at a speed of more than 20 miles per hour on level ground; and
(ii) increasing the speed of the device when human power is used to propel the device at more than 20 miles per hour.
53-3-202. Drivers must be licensed.
(b) A person operating a moped, as defined in Section 41-6a-102, or an electric assisted bicycle, as defined in Section 41-6a-102, is not required to have a motorcycle endorsement issued under this chapter.
41-1a-202. Definitions -- Vehicles exempt from registration -- Registration of vehicles after establishing residency.
(2) Registration under this chapter is not required for any:
(m) electric assisted bicycle defined under Section 41-6a-102;
41-12a-301. Definition -- Requirement of owner's or operator's security -- Exceptions.
(5) Owner's or operator's security is not required for any of the following:
(c) electric assisted bicycles as defined under Section 41-6a-102;
41-6a-1505. Motorcycle or motor-driven cycle -- Protective headgear -- Closed cab excepted -- Electric assisted bicycles, motor assisted scooters, electric personal assistive mobility devices.
(1) A person under the age of 18 may not operate or ride on a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle on a highway unless the person is wearing protective headgear which complies with specifications adopted under Subsection (3).
(2) This section does not apply to persons riding within an enclosed cab.
(3) The following standards and specifications for protective headgear are adopted:
(a) 49 C.F.R. 571.218 related to protective headgear for motorcycles; and
(b) 49 C.F.R. 1203 related to protective headgear for bicycles, motor assisted scooters, and electric personal assistive mobility devices.
41-6a-1105. Operation of bicycle or moped on and use of roadway -- Duties, prohibitions.
(1) A person operating a bicycle or a moped on a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride as near as practicable to the right-hand edge of the roadway except when:
(a) overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction;
(b) preparing to make a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway;
(c) traveling straight through an intersection that has a right-turn only lane that is in conflict with the straight through movement; or
(d) reasonably necessary to avoid conditions that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand edge of the roadway including:
(i) fixed or moving objects;
(ii) parked or moving vehicles;
(iii) bicycles;
(iv) pedestrians;
(v) animals;
(vi) surface hazards; or
(vii) a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
(2) A person operating a bicycle or moped on a highway shall operate in the designated direction of traffic.
(3) (a) A person riding a bicycle or moped on a roadway may not ride more than two abreast with another person except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.
(b) If allowed under Subsection (3)(a), a person riding two abreast with another person may not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and shall ride within a single lane.
(4) If a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway, a bicycle rider may be directed by a traffic-control device to use the path and not the roadway.
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