MVA changes scooter laws University students adapt to new regulations Students decide if safety precautions are worth

the costs
She parked her scooter, careful to swerve around the swarm of pedestrians. Struggling to carry her oversized gear, she placed her goggles in her bag, holding her helmet in one hand and juggling her coffee in the other. She walked five steps before stopping to readjust her grip. Sofia Mououla, a junior government and politics major, represents many students affected by the recent scooter law change. Effective Oct. 1, university scooter and moped operators are required to have Personal Injury Protection insurance and title their scooters with the Maryland Motor Photos by Olivia Denn. Vehicle Administration. Scooter owners must also wear an MVA-approved helmet and proper eye protection. Students interviewed on campus have responded with mixed reviews. Negative backlash The sudden law changes have elicited negativity from some students. Bethany Fincher, a sophomore geography major, purchased her scooter for one reason: to provide a more accessible means of transportation. The new mandate, however, has inhibited certain benefits. I bought this [scooter] thinking I could give my friends rides, she said. Now, unless I miraculously have two helmets, I cant. (more) The Maryland scooter law change affects Patrick Campbell (left) and Sofia Mouloua.

The additional fees and cost of gear, insurance and vehicle identification have evoked animosity from some students. The threat of potential citations has only furthered their annoyance. After Oct. 1, Maryland officials can fine any motor scooter operator $110 for riding without proper eye protection or a helmet, $70 for not displaying a vehicle title or $290 for not having insurance. The requirements enrage Andrea Braver, a sophomore Arabic major. Students already pay outrageous prices for parking, she said. How can they be expected to afford a new helmet, goggles and insurance, let alone college tuition? Sense of approval Some students, however, have embraced the law changes. Previously, state law only inflicted such regulations on

I never wore a helmet before my accident, and now its the first thing I think about.
-Patrick Campbell, senior computer science major

motorcycle riders. Patrick Campbell, a senior computer science major who recently fractured his spatula in a scooter-related accident, understands the vitality of safety regulations. There is a reason for these laws, he said. I never wore a helmet before my accident, and now its the first thing I think about.

These law changes might seem sudden, but Chelsea Bailey, a student-employee at the Department of Transportation Services, says they are long overdue. Requiring protective gear is a safety precaution, but [requiring] insurance is necessary because it protects pedestrians and other drivers, she said. Safety is the primary goal. ###