Watt Cycles
General => Ride, Trail, and Club Announcements => Laws About Ebikes => Topic started by: Tom Cole on September 21, 2016, 06:20:09 pm
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North Carolina does not have a wiki listing
The only specific definition I can find is going to be controversial but it clearly defines a "motor-driven bicycle" as a motorcycle. WHAT??? Read on...
Definition (http://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/ByChapter/Chapter_20.html)
§ 20-4.01. Definitions.
Unless the context requires otherwise, the following definitions apply throughout this Chapter to the defined words and phrases and their cognates:
(27) Passenger Vehicles. -
d. Motorcycles. - Vehicles having a saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, including autocycles, motor scooters, and motor-driven bicycles, but excluding tractors and utility vehicles equipped with an additional form of device designed to transport property, three-wheeled vehicles while being used by law-enforcement agencies and mopeds as defined in subdivision d1 of this subsection.
d1. Moped. - Defined in G.S. 105-164.3.
HOWEVER! you'll notice that Mopeds are excluded and are defined as stated above in G.S. 105-164.3 (http://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_105/GS_105-164.3.pdf) which further excludes mopeds from being "motor vehicles."
§ 105-164.3. Definitions.
The following definitions apply in this Article:
(22) Moped. – A vehicle that has two or three wheels, no external shifting device,
and a motor that does not exceed 50 cubic centimeters piston displacement
and cannot propel the vehicle at a speed greater than 30 miles per hour on a
level surface.
(23) Motor vehicle. – A vehicle that is designed primarily for use upon the
highways and is either self-propelled or propelled by a self-propelled
vehicle, but does not include:
a. A moped
But, notice the "no external shifting device?" Does that exclude any ebike that has multiple sprockets and derailleurs? Wow, this is getting tricky! If you think you qualify as a moped, then click here and follow applicable moped laws. (https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/vehicle/title/vehicles/mopedfaq.html)
What to do? If you decide you do not qualify as a moped and want to ride an ebike in NC, you should probably follow the federal definition on roadways and follow the laws pertaining to the operation of a bicycle. This site has a great detail of Important NC Traffic Laws Applicable to Bicyclists. (http://www.bikewalknc.org/important-nc-traffic-laws-applicable-to-bicyclists/)