Usually on the first day of October, the state of Connecticut decides to enact laws which enrich our well being for the most part. Ahem!!

Well, the Connecticut State Legislature spent a lot of time on motor vehicle issues this past session. One of the laws put many restrictions on 16 and 17 year old drivers.

You see, unfortunately, the state is trying to act like a “parent” because they won’t let the parent act like a “parent.”

We drove our parents cars or our own cars, but we did not dare overdo it or ELSE!!! Because back when I was a kid there was a thing called corporal punishment. Not beating up or maiming, but punishment. Just the threat of knowing what our parents would or might do if we smashed up their car or our car or anyone elses car for that matter, kept us in line. PERIOD!!

Now the Legislature also decided to ban pocket or rocket bikes. These are those small “miniature” motorcycles that kids ride. They go almost just as fast as a regular motorcycle, but they are tiny. I guess after being in the state for several years, and not needing to have a license or registration or anything else to ride these pocket bikes, the state in their infinite wisdom decided these bikes were dangerous,

Unfortunately, when they wrote the law banning these motorized “bikes,” mopeds were originally included in the ban, But luckily hundreds of people, including myself and the moped dealers across the state complained to the Department of Motor Vehicles and that law was re-written.

I know a few people I spoke with online a few days ago were confused about what the state is classifying as a “moped” and what the state is calling a “motorcycle.”

Basically, you have a “moped” if the engine is LESS than 50cc. If your engine is 50cc or over, Connecticut has decided that you have a “motorcycle” and must register this as a motorcycle, get a motorcycle license and take a motorcycle training/driving course. You must also have motorcycle insurance.

A moped, is any engine less than 50cc. I have a title to my moped which I am now carrying with me. The title says my engine is 49cc. Hmm how convenient!! Of course, the Connecticut DMV also states that a true moped, besides being under 50cc must also not go over 30 miles per hour. OK!!!

I have a few links to the new moped or scooter law in Connecticut now in case some of you want to go out and purchase one of these. Some of the ads for “moped/scooters” that boast a  50cc, 150cc or 250cc engine ARE NOT MOPEDS IN CONNECTICUT AS OF OCT 1.

DO NOT DRIVE THEM WITHOUT A MOTORCYCLE LICENSE!! YOU WILL BE FINED AND YOUR SCOOTER TAKEN BY POLICE. I actually have  a plate on the back of my moped that says “CONNECTICUT MOPED” with the state statute written on it that gives me the right to ride it!!  Take note local law enforcement!!!

You would think with the economy collapsing, the banks failing, small businesses now not being able to get loans, Foxwoods laying off 700 employees, etc, etc, that our Legislature would have something better to do than worry about whether you are riding a “moped” or a motorcycle. They should be rewarding people for trying to save gas.

God, Connecticut, stop being so damn anal!! Give people a break will you. The way things are going, riding our moped/scooter may be our only form of entertainment. GIVE IT UP!!

New rules for mopeds/scooters

Mopeds still legal in Connecticut

All these “scooter/mopeds” are now classified as “motorcycles” in Connecticut

In other developments: I am sure we will be hearing more about this Registrar of Voters situation with the eligible voters vs non-registered voters issue. I commend Bob Moran for asking these questions and for having the courage to run for unaffiliated Registrar of Voters. Anytime government is being questioned is a good thing, but I do try to balance things out and give the other side their chance to speak when possible.

I am hoping you will all debate this issue. That is the purpose of Undergroundtownhall. To present issues on a wide variety of topics and especially in Cheshire, to speak about issues not normally spoken about.

And finally, I was going to take a photo of the blocked stop sign on Cornwall and Lanyon Road, but to my surprise, when I went by on Tuesday, the branches that were obscuring the sign were cut away!! GOOD JOB!!