What Indiana law says about riding an electric dirt bike, question by question. 6 of 6 answered from official text.
Published
Reviewed . Sources: IC 14-8-2-185(a), (b)(6), (c)(6), (c)(9); IC 9-13-2-117.3; IC 9-18.1-14-1(a), (b); IC 9-18.1-14-5(d); IC 9-13-2-117.3; IC 14-8-2-185(a); IC 14-16-1-7; IC 14-16-1-27; IC 14-16-1-32; IC 9-18.1-14-11(b), (c); IC 9-13-2-117.3; IC 14-8-2-185(a); IC 14-16-1-7; IC 14-16-1-20(b); IC 14-8-2-185(a); IC 14-16-1-7; IC 14-16-1-20(a), (c); IC 14-8-2-185(a); IC 9-18.1-14-1(d); IC 9-21-1-3(a)(14); IC 9-21-1-3.3(a); IC 9-13-2-49.2; IC 9-13-2-26.6; IC 9-13-2-26.7; IC 9-13-2-26.8.
The answers
Is an electric dirt bike an off-highway vehicle?
For purposes of IC 14-16-1 and IC 14-19-1-0.5, Indiana defines an off-road vehicle as a motor driven vehicle capable of cross-country travel without benefit of a road and on or immediately over land, water, snow, ice, marsh, swampland, or other natural terrain. The term includes other means of transportation deriving motive power from a source other than muscle or wind. It does not include any other vehicle properly registered by the bureau of motor vehicles, or an electric bicycle. Title 9 gives "off-road vehicle" the same meaning.
Indiana writes this rule for an "off-road vehicle", defined as a motor driven vehicle capable of cross-country travel without benefit of a road. An off-road vehicle must be registered with the bureau of motor vehicles to be operated in Indiana, with decals on the forward half of the vehicle or as bureau rules prescribe. The statute excepts a vehicle operated exclusively in a permitted special event of limited duration; one registered in another state or country and operated by a nonresident for not more than 20 days in one calendar year; one being tested or demonstrated with certificate numbers; one whose operator carries a bill of sale dated not more than 45 days earlier; and one used for official business by the state, a municipal corporation, a volunteer fire department or the United States government. A nonresident's vehicle not registered in its own state or country needs an annual trail use tag, for a fee, to be operated on designated trails and properties owned or managed by the department. An individual may not operate a vehicle on public property without the consent of the state or a state agency, or in a United States forest without the consent of the United States Forest Service.
Indiana writes this rule for an "off-road vehicle", defined as a motor driven vehicle capable of cross-country travel without benefit of a road and on or immediately over land, water, snow, ice, marsh, swampland, or other natural terrain. An individual less than 18 years of age who is operating or riding on an off-road vehicle must wear a helmet that meets the United States Department of Transportation standards under 49 CFR 571.218 as in effect January 1, 1979. The exception is an individual under 18 who is properly fastened and restrained in a child restraint system designed to protect the head, on an off-road vehicle that is factory equipped to secure the child in that system and has a roll over protection structure.
Indiana writes this rule for an "off-road vehicle", defined as a motor driven vehicle capable of cross-country travel without benefit of a road and on or immediately over land, water, snow, ice, marsh, swampland, or other natural terrain. In the chapter, "vehicle" refers to an off-road vehicle or a snowmobile. An individual less than 14 years of age may not operate a vehicle without immediate supervision of an individual at least 18 years of age, except on land owned or under the control of the individual or the individual's parent or legal guardian.
Indiana writes this rule for an "off-road vehicle", defined as a motor driven vehicle capable of cross-country travel without benefit of a road. Except under a city, county or town ordinance on off-road vehicles on a highway under its jurisdiction, an individual may not operate a vehicle required to be registered as an off-road vehicle upon a public highway, street or right-of-way, or on a public or private parking lot not specifically designated for the use of vehicles, outside five conditions: on the right-of-way adjacent to the traveled part of a public highway, except a limited access highway, with sufficient width to operate a reasonable distance off the traveled part without endangering life or property; crossing a public highway other than a limited access highway at right angles, in safety, after a complete stop and yielding the right-of-way; on a county road outside city or town limits designated for this purpose by the county highway department; when a law enforcement officer authorizes use during emergencies; and for a special event of limited duration under permit. With the same ordinance exception, an individual may not operate a vehicle on a public highway without a valid motor vehicle driver's license. Under the registration chapter, operating an off-road vehicle on a public roadway is a Class C infraction.
An electric bicycle is any bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an assistive electric motor with a power output not greater than 750 watts that meets the requirements of a Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3 electric bicycle. Class 1 and Class 3 motors provide assistance only when the operator is pedaling and cease at 20 and 28 miles per hour respectively; a Class 2 motor may be used to exclusively propel the bicycle and ceases or is unable to provide assistance at 20 miles per hour.
This page restates state law in plain words and links the text it came from. It is not legal advice. Cities, counties and the agencies that manage federal land (the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service) add rules of their own, so check with whoever manages the ground you plan to ride.
