• Mopeds follow two sets of laws, based on their speed and motor performance.moped image by fuxart from Fotolia.com
  
  Using an electric vehicle is an appealing option for people who are concerned about the environment or combating rising fuel prices. In Florida, the distinction between a bicycle and a highway vehicle such as a motorcycle is made by considering the amount of horsepower delivered by the motor; the regulations that must be followed depends on this distinction.
  
  

Registration and Driver's License Requirements

• According to the 2010 Florida Statutes, vehicles with electric or gasoline motors that produce less than a rating of 2-brake horsepower are not considered motorized vehicles in relation to traffic laws. In general, this includes any vehicle that travels 30 miles per hour or less on level terrain. Vehicles with more than 2 horsepower must be registered and have license plates issued. Additionally, a driver's license is required to operate such vehicles on public roads. Vehicles with smaller engines are considered bicycles and may include recreational devices with up to three wheels. No person under the age of 16 is allowed to operate a motorized two-wheeled vehicle on public roads.
  
  

Lighting Regulations

• Registered vehicles with fewer than four wheels are required to have a front headlight that operates anytime the motor is in operation, and other lights such as brake lights and turn signals. Electric mopeds and other unregistered vehicle types are required to have a headlight only between the hours of dusk and dawn. This light mush be a white light and visible from a minimum of 500 feet in front of the vehicle. Red rear lights are required during the same hours and must be visible for at least 300 feet from the rear. Turn signals are not required on unregistered vehicles.
  
  

Use of Roadways

• Two-wheeled motorized devices, including electric mopeds, are considered vehicles, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. Registered vehicles must be operated on a road surface and have equal rights to the use of the right-hand lane, except for on roads such as interstate highways, where vehicle restrictions apply. Cyclists wishing to make a left turn may use the left-turn lane and have the right to fully occupy the portion of the lane they're in. Left turns for bicycles may also be made by traveling to the far left of the leftmost through-lane and turning to the left at the far side of the intersection as traffic allows. Motorized vehicles, except for mobility scooters, are prohibited for use on sidewalks.
  
  

Safety Equipment Regulations

• Any person operating a motorized two-wheeled vehicle, as defined by the Florida Department of Transportation, is required to wear protective eyewear such as safety glasses or a face shield. The exception to this law is when the vehicle being operated has an affixed windscreen. Helmets must be worn by all passengers or operators of such vehicles if they're 16 years old or younger.