Mo-ped licensing and rules will save lives

Re: The Sun News Feb. 14 editorial on mo-ped regulations:

Kudos to State Sen. Greg Hembree and others in the state Legislature for supporting proposed legislation regulating mo-peds and most likely saving future lives on our main roadways. It seems that once a month, there is a headline about some operator or passenger on a mo-ped killed on roadways intended for higher-speed cars and truck traffic.

It is unconscionable and unfortunate that some legislators like Doug Brannon are hypothetically assuming that regulating mo-peds will cost jobs or keep someone from feeding their families. There is no question that lives will be saved and accidents prevented when mo-ped operators are limited to those who: meet the criteria of being legally qualified to operate a motorized conveyance, who only operate on secondary roadways where speed limits are 35 mph or less, who have been responsible enough to obey the laws of the roadway, and who have been responsible enough to maintain a valid driver’s license, and are insured.

Someone who has had their driver’s license suspended or taken away is not one who should be operating any motorized transportation on our roadways. If what some of our law enforcement professionals say is true, that many of the mo-ped operators are using mo-peds to get around current laws because they have alcohol or other abuse problems, no one should want to share any roadway with them.

There are other means of transportation available to those who have lost their driving privileges due to their own life choices. Also, let’s not forget, even golf carts which are more visible, are limited to operation on roadways of 35 mph or less, are regulated, require licensed operators, and require insurance and registration.

Let’s focus on saved lives, qualified vehicle operators and not on hypotheticals.

This story was originally published February 22, 2016 at 8:29 AM with the headline "Mo-ped licensing and rules will save lives."