A pocket bike, all-terrain vehicle or golf cart might seem like a fun and convenient way to get around town or around the streets of your neighborhood but by law, many of these and similar modes of transportation can only be operated on your own property.

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office is reminding citizens which types of vehicles are permitted on Maryland roadways and which are illegal.

Maryland vehicle law defines motor vehicles as being self-propelled or propelled by electric power obtained from overhead electrical wires and which are not operated on rails. Under this definition, mopeds and motor scooters are not considered motor vehicles.

ATVs, motorized skate boards, motorized bicycles, motorized mini-bikes, go-carts and golf carts are considered motor vehicles by law but they cannot be registered. Any vehicle that is not registered in the state of Maryland may not be driven on Maryland highways.

Maryland vehicle law defines highways as the entire width between the boundary lines of any way or thoroughfare of which any part is used by the public for vehicular travel, whether or not the way or thoroughfare has been dedicated to the public and accepted by any proper authority. This means ATVs, motorized skate boards, motorized bicycles, motorized mini-bikes, go-carts and golf carts can only be driven on private property with the permission of the owner or agent.

Mopeds and Motor Scooters – A moped is a bicycle that is designed to be operated by human power with the assistance of a motor and is equipped with pedals that mechanically drive the rear wheel or wheels. A moped is a bicycle that is designed to be operated by human power with the assistance of a motor and is equipped with pedals that mechanically drive the rear wheel or wheels. Mopeds have two or three wheels that are all more than 14 inches in diameter and have a motor with a rating of 1.5 brake horsepower or less. If the motor is a combustion engine, mopeds have a capacity of 50 cubic centimeters piston displacement or less.

Motor scooters are non-pedal vehicles that have a seat for the operator, have two wheels, one of which is 10 inches or more in diameter, and have a step-through chassis. Motor scooters have a motor with a rating of 2.7 brake horsepower or less, or if the motor is an internal combustion engine, with a capacity of 50 cubic centimeters piston displacement or less. Motor scooters are equipped with an automatic transmission. Motor scooters do not include vehicles that have been manufactured for off-road use, such as motorcycles and ATVs. Motor scooters are generally found at motorcycle shops and usually cost at least $1,500. If they are 50 CCs or less, they do not require tags. The driver must have a valid driver’s license of any class from any state or country in which they reside or have a moped operators permit issued by the Maryland MVA.

Any person operating a bicycle, including a moped, or motor scooter should ride as close to the right side of the roadway as practical and safe, except when attempting to make a left turn, operating on a one-way street or passing a stopped or slower vehicle. Two people can ride side-by-side when it does not impede the flow of traffic. The law also states operators may walk the bicycle or motor scooter on the right side of a highway if there is no sidewalk.

These vehicles cannot be operated on a roadway w