The bill carried by state Rep. David Wolkins, R-Winona Lake, requires drivers of motorized scooters to register and plate their bikes with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The bill sets the cost to register at $17.30 along with a $10 annual excise tax charge.
The bill does not require scooter drivers to carry insurance. Wolkins, who carried the bill drafted by now Indiana Auditor Suzanne Crouch over the summer, said he feels the legislation satisfies concerns over motorized scooters.
Evansville police officers and a city councilwoman attended the House Roads and Transportation Committee hearing Tuesday.
Evansville police Sgt. Jason Cullum said the department supports Wolkins’ bill as written but hopes it will lead to addressing other issues in the future, such as the requirement of carrying insurance and addressing scooter operators who have lost their driver’s licenses.
“It’s a step in the right direction,” Cullum said. “There are some other things we have looked into, some additional measures. Right now they’re not included in this, but what the bill does include will help our community. Hopefully with the successful passage we’ll continue to address other issues.”
Cullum said requiring the scooters to be registered and plated will help the department in figuring out the owners of scooters and recovering the bikes when they are stolen.
He said last year the number of automobile and scooter thefts in the city were comparable.
Evansville City Councilwoman Missy Mosby said she attended the hearing to represent the neighborhood groups in her Second Ward council district.
“It’s just a real issue in my area,” Mosby said. “We’ve had two fatalities and just numerous complaints, phone calls and accidents in the Second Ward and something needs to be done for more regulation.”