Many people are under the impression that scooters under a certain cc do not require a drivers license in Colorado. This is especially true for those who have had their drivers license revoked due to a DUI. Underage kids are in for heartbreak too.
Under Colorado law, all scooters require the operator to have a drivers license. There is no engine cc size that does not require a drivers license.
So if you do not have a drivers license, one can not legally drive a scooter on Colorado public roadways. If you get caught without one, you'll suffer the same penalties as driving a car without a drivers license.
All scooters in Colorado need liability insurance too. That's all scooters with any cc size engine. Driving without insurance will leave one $500 poorer.
So if you were looking to legally use a scooter as an alternative means of transportation while your Colorado drivers license is revoked, no can do. You're stuck with non-motorized transport or the bus.
© 2012 G. Kunkel and Colorado Scooters. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to G. Kunkel and Colorado Scooters with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Make sure the scooter is on the Colorado DMV approved list before purchasing it.
The Colorado DMV doesn't approve just any scooter brand for title, registration and plates. They have to be on the official DMV approved list. If your new scooter isn't on the list, you're going to cry a river.
Colorado and the USA has been flooded with mainland chinese scooters the past five years. Many did not meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the United States Department of Transportation (US DOT) safety standards.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has something to say on their legal importation and on-road worthiness too at http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/faq%20site/pages/page3.html
Without the proper documents for your scooter, the DMV won't register it. Period.
Before purchasing a scooter, ask the dealer or seller many questions. They should be able to give you a Certificate of Origin or a title. It's a good idea to call the DMV before finalizing any scooter sale too.
Once purchased, be sure to register it right away. The fine for riding around on an unregistered scooter is north of $500.
Reference:
http://www.scooterdiva.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=3837
© 2012 G. Kunkel and Colorado Scooters. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to G. Kunkel and Colorado Scooters with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Colorado and the USA has been flooded with mainland chinese scooters the past five years. Many did not meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the United States Department of Transportation (US DOT) safety standards.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has something to say on their legal importation and on-road worthiness too at http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/faq%20site/pages/page3.html
Without the proper documents for your scooter, the DMV won't register it. Period.
Before purchasing a scooter, ask the dealer or seller many questions. They should be able to give you a Certificate of Origin or a title. It's a good idea to call the DMV before finalizing any scooter sale too.
Once purchased, be sure to register it right away. The fine for riding around on an unregistered scooter is north of $500.
Reference:
http://www.scooterdiva.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=3837
© 2012 G. Kunkel and Colorado Scooters. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to G. Kunkel and Colorado Scooters with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Don't buy a scooter without a legal title
While it may seem like a great deal at the time, don't even consider buying a scooter in Colorado without a legal title that can be signed over to the buyer. Get a legal Bill of Sale at the same time too. Without these legal documents, you may never be able to register your scooter.
In the state of Colorado, there are specific responsibilities put on the Buyers and Sellers of motor vehicles during the purchasing process. The seller must provide a Colorado Certificate of Title and a Bill of Sale. The buyer needs to check the Motor Vehicle Verification System and the National Insurance Crime Bureau to make sure the vehicle isn't stolen.
If you want to read some horror stories of what people have gone through after buying a scooter that 'was a great deal', read the Topix Scooter Forum discussion 'no title for scooter'. They cover a wide spectrum of what can happen without the proper title.
Titles to scooters are not issued by scooter dealers. They only fill out the paperwork that is given to the Colorado DMV or the Colorado Dept of Revenue . New scooter dealerships should have the certificate of origin that states the year of manufacture, engine cc size, model, etc. Used scooter dealerships should have the title to the scooter.
If the legal title to the scooter is lost, the seller or legal owner will need to file a Duplicate Title and Receipt form at the county motor vehicle office. The process can take months. The form and more information can be found at http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/Revenue-MV/RMV/1210324084599
When registering a scooter at the Colorado DMV you'll need to bring a slew of legal documents including proof of insurance and a verifiable ID. Everything you will need is listed on this DMV page http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/Revenue-MV/RMV/1209847502389
If you are asking yourself if you need to register your scooter in Colorado, the answer is always - yes. People really do register their low-power scooters and 50cc+ scooters in the state of Colorado. The fines for riding an unregistered scooter without insurance can be quite steep.
From the Colorado Dept of Revenue website "Low-Power Scooters shall not be registered on or after July 1, 2010 without proof of complying motor vehicle insurance policy and payment of the Motorist Insurance Identification Fee. Non-compliance is a misdemeanor traffic offense with a minimum penalty for such offense is a $500.00 fine and that the maximum penalty for such offense is one year's imprisonment and a $1,000.00 fine.".
If you have any questions about getting a title, call your county DMV office. Bottom line when buying a scooter - don't do it unless the seller can provide a clear legal title and a notorized Bill of Sale.
© 2012 G. Kunkel and Colorado Scooters. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to G. Kunkel and Colorado Scooters with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
In the state of Colorado, there are specific responsibilities put on the Buyers and Sellers of motor vehicles during the purchasing process. The seller must provide a Colorado Certificate of Title and a Bill of Sale. The buyer needs to check the Motor Vehicle Verification System and the National Insurance Crime Bureau to make sure the vehicle isn't stolen.
If you want to read some horror stories of what people have gone through after buying a scooter that 'was a great deal', read the Topix Scooter Forum discussion 'no title for scooter'. They cover a wide spectrum of what can happen without the proper title.
Titles to scooters are not issued by scooter dealers. They only fill out the paperwork that is given to the Colorado DMV or the Colorado Dept of Revenue . New scooter dealerships should have the certificate of origin that states the year of manufacture, engine cc size, model, etc. Used scooter dealerships should have the title to the scooter.
If the legal title to the scooter is lost, the seller or legal owner will need to file a Duplicate Title and Receipt form at the county motor vehicle office. The process can take months. The form and more information can be found at http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/Revenue-MV/RMV/1210324084599
When registering a scooter at the Colorado DMV you'll need to bring a slew of legal documents including proof of insurance and a verifiable ID. Everything you will need is listed on this DMV page http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/Revenue-MV/RMV/1209847502389
If you are asking yourself if you need to register your scooter in Colorado, the answer is always - yes. People really do register their low-power scooters and 50cc+ scooters in the state of Colorado. The fines for riding an unregistered scooter without insurance can be quite steep.
From the Colorado Dept of Revenue website "Low-Power Scooters shall not be registered on or after July 1, 2010 without proof of complying motor vehicle insurance policy and payment of the Motorist Insurance Identification Fee. Non-compliance is a misdemeanor traffic offense with a minimum penalty for such offense is a $500.00 fine and that the maximum penalty for such offense is one year's imprisonment and a $1,000.00 fine.".
If you have any questions about getting a title, call your county DMV office. Bottom line when buying a scooter - don't do it unless the seller can provide a clear legal title and a notorized Bill of Sale.
© 2012 G. Kunkel and Colorado Scooters. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to G. Kunkel and Colorado Scooters with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Denver Metro Area Scooter Clubs and Groups
There are quite a few scooter clubs and groups in the Denver, Colorado Metro area. Some are very informal and go out on scooter rides together. Other scooter clubs emulate motorcycle clubs and go through the full sponsorship method of recruiting new members.
Clubs can be based on engine size, manufacturer, manual or automatic, model of scooter, gender, scooter shop affiliation, or just general outlook on life. You'll need to shop around to find the right scooter club for you. Scooter clubs that routinely go on mountain rides may exclude low-power scooters.
A few Denver area scooter clubs in no particular order include:
Sacrab Scooter Squad - Denver Chapter - Requires sponsorship to join. Welcomes anyone " regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, or the type of scooter you own." They frequently go out on rides together. Some rides require an engine greater than 49cc. Website http://www.scarabsc.com/denver/about.html
Bottle Rocket Scooter Club - All about maintenance and restoration of metal bodied classic scooters. Website http://www.brsc.org/
Misfit Toys Scooter Club - Scooter club affiliated with Sportique Scooter Shop. All makes, models, engine sizes, are welcome. Website http://www.misfittoyssc.net/#!__main-page
Secret Servix Scooter Club - A women's scooter club for those who ride classic scooter models. Founded in 1995. Website http://www.lambrettagirl.com/ServixGirls.html
Sqream Scooter Club - Denver's Gay & Lesbian scooter club. Friends are welcome in club activities. Open to all makes, models, engine size scooter riders. Website http://www.sqream.net/http://www.sqream.net/
Jedi Knights Scooter Club - Denver Chapter - Into classic metal scooters and light sabers. Website http://jksc.org/
Denver City Denver - Organizers of Colorado's largest scooter rally - Mile High Mayhem. All makes, models, and engine sizes are welcome. Mountain rides will have a engine size limit. Website http://www.milehighmayhem.com/
No matter what scooter make, model, or engine size, there's a scooter club in the Denver Metro Area for you. Try a few out at some of their major rallies to get a feel for the club. Scooterists are a pretty laid-back open minded lot. Sit back and observe before making any blanket statements.
© 2012 G. Kunkel and Colorado Scooters. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to G. Kunkel and Colorado Scooters with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Clubs can be based on engine size, manufacturer, manual or automatic, model of scooter, gender, scooter shop affiliation, or just general outlook on life. You'll need to shop around to find the right scooter club for you. Scooter clubs that routinely go on mountain rides may exclude low-power scooters.
A few Denver area scooter clubs in no particular order include:
Sacrab Scooter Squad - Denver Chapter - Requires sponsorship to join. Welcomes anyone " regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, or the type of scooter you own." They frequently go out on rides together. Some rides require an engine greater than 49cc. Website http://www.scarabsc.com/denver/about.html
Bottle Rocket Scooter Club - All about maintenance and restoration of metal bodied classic scooters. Website http://www.brsc.org/
Misfit Toys Scooter Club - Scooter club affiliated with Sportique Scooter Shop. All makes, models, engine sizes, are welcome. Website http://www.misfittoyssc.net/#!__main-page
Secret Servix Scooter Club - A women's scooter club for those who ride classic scooter models. Founded in 1995. Website http://www.lambrettagirl.com/ServixGirls.html
Sqream Scooter Club - Denver's Gay & Lesbian scooter club. Friends are welcome in club activities. Open to all makes, models, engine size scooter riders. Website http://www.sqream.net/http://www.sqream.net/
Jedi Knights Scooter Club - Denver Chapter - Into classic metal scooters and light sabers. Website http://jksc.org/
Denver City Denver - Organizers of Colorado's largest scooter rally - Mile High Mayhem. All makes, models, and engine sizes are welcome. Mountain rides will have a engine size limit. Website http://www.milehighmayhem.com/
No matter what scooter make, model, or engine size, there's a scooter club in the Denver Metro Area for you. Try a few out at some of their major rallies to get a feel for the club. Scooterists are a pretty laid-back open minded lot. Sit back and observe before making any blanket statements.
© 2012 G. Kunkel and Colorado Scooters. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to G. Kunkel and Colorado Scooters with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Lock up your scooter with an armored security cable
Locking your scooter up to something solid is pretty important in the Denver Metro Area. If you don't lock it up, the scooter could be stolen fairly quickly. As one unsecured scooter owner found out at her Denver home - stolen in 30 seconds.
Armored cables are locking cables with reinforced steel cable. They come in a variety of lengths and diameter sizes. They offer a higher level of theft resistance than your typical cable lock.
Armored cables are locking cables with reinforced steel cable. They come in a variety of lengths and diameter sizes. They offer a higher level of theft resistance than your typical cable lock.
A few years ago I upgraded to a OnGuard
Rotweiller 25mm Armor Coil Cable Lock. This beefy lock is flexible yet offers real scooter security. The outer vinyl cover protects my scooter from scratches and the key design prevents lock-picking. More information at http://www.onguardlock.com/
The lock is heavy and kinda pricey. A fair trade knowing that the cable isn't going to easily be cut.
If you are in the market for a armored cable, there are a few items to consider. What length of cable do you need and how are you going to lock it to your scooter. Six feet is a good number to consider for length.
If the cable is too short, it is hard to lock the scooter to a solid object. If the cable diameter is too thick, one might not be able to thread in through a wheel to lock the scooter up.
Check out what is available in your local scooter shop and online. You'll find a armored cable lock that meets your security needs.
© 2012 G. Kunkel and Colorado Scooters. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to G. Kunkel and Colorado Scooters with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
© 2012 G. Kunkel and Colorado Scooters. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to G. Kunkel and Colorado Scooters with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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