Drunken moped drivers should get DUIs

Moped drivers shouldn’t be able to get away with drunken driving even if their vehicles are low-powered scooters.

Because of a glitch in the law, mopeds, which are not classified in South Carolina as motorized vehicles, are not subject to DUI laws. Operators can exceed the legal limit for intoxication and still drive a moped or similar two-wheeled vehicle with impunity.

Mopeds, in fact, are infamous as the chosen mode of transportation for those who have been convicted of DUI offenses and are not allowed to drive a car as part of their sentence. Drivers whose licenses have been suspended for six months or less can drive a moped in South Carolina, without a license, until the suspension is over.

While we appreciate the fact that these people need a way to get around and go to work, they shouldn’t be given carte blanche to drive drunk.

Thanks to recent efforts in the state Senate, that could change this year. A Senate panel moved to close a loophole in state law so that moped drivers can be charged with DUI.

The bill now goes to the full Transportation Committee, and if there are no changes by the committee or the full Senate, it could go to Gov. Nikki Haley for her signature after passage.

It’s not simply that moped drivers can skirt the law. They also pose a significant danger to themselves and other drivers on the road.

Last year, 33 moped riders were killed in South Carolina, almost three times as many as five years earlier and a 32 percent increase over the 25 killed in 2013, according to the state Department of Public Safety. But mopeds also can be the cause of accidents, primarily because they are so small and hard to see, especially at night.

Lawmakers are considering a number of other bills that would apply to driving mopeds. Measures include requiring riders to wear reflective vests, have a flashing light on the vehicle or limiting mopeds to only certain parts of the road. Some bills also address issues regarding registration, insurance and licensing.

But closing the DUI loophole should be a top priority. People shouldn’t be allowed to operate any kind of motor vehicles on public roads when they’re falling-down drunk.

This story was originally published April 9, 2015 at 6:52 PM with the headline "Drunken moped drivers should get DUIs."