OFF THE WIRE
By Capital
News Service
Capital News Service
COLLEGE PARK -- A new law requiring motor scooter and moped users to wear
helmets and eye protection has riders confused as to what should be shielding
their eyes.
According to the law, riders who do not have a windscreen on their scooter or
moped must have either a visor on their helmet or some other type of eye
protection.
Buel Young, a spokesman for Maryland’s Motor Vehicle Administration, said the
department adopts the federal standards set forth by the Food and Drug
Administration for eye-protection devices.
The FDA standard says “eyeglasses and sunglasses must be fitted with
impact-resistant lenses,” but it's not always clear whether particular eyewear
qualifies under the FDA's detailed impact test.
This means “nearly everything that is out there” in terms of eye protection
would count under the law, Young said. However, he emphasized riders should look
on their eye-protective devices for a mark of approval by the FDA.
Marc Limansky, a spokesman for the University of Maryland Police Department
in College Park, said when it comes to enforcement, his unit does not take an
all-encompassing view. The university has more than 400 scooters registered with
its transportation department.
“I wouldn't go that far, to say anything covering your eyes would count,”
said Limansky, who used the example of the type of small, round, glasses the
late Beatles singer John Lennon wore as something his department would question.
It is up to officers to use their own discretion, Limansky said, when it
comes to handing out violations regarding eye protection.
"Generally, people aren’t going to be stopped just for if they have the wrong
glasses on,” said Limansky. The department, he said, is in an educational phase
and only issuing citations to repeat offenders.
Jordan Daniels, a sophomore criminology major at the University of Maryland,
said that unlike the cut-and-dried helmet aspect of the law, when it comes to
eye protection he is unsure what he is allowed to wear.
“There's no specifics of what kind of eye protection you have to wear. Like
they don’t say you have to wear a certain type of goggles or you have to wear
specific glasses,” said Daniels.
Daniels also said that riding at night is a problem under the new law. He
said it is too difficult to see at night with sunglasses on, and so he often
goes without eye protection.
Peter Berger, a junior double major in finance and physiology/neurobiology,
agrees with Daniels that it is difficult to see, but still wears his tinted
visor at night for fear of being pulled over. Berger said he has already been
stopped in a parking garage for not having his visor down, but only received a
warning.
“I think it’s less safe to wear a tinted visor at night, than to wear no
visor at all,” he said. "I have considered not doing it, because it’s hard to
see like potholes or people, but I mean I don't want to get pulled over.”
Sgt. Marc Black, a spokesman for the Maryland State Police, notes that the
law is still in effect at night, and riders should use common sense.
“They may not be in violation of the new scooter law, but it may not be the
safest thing for them to wear sunglasses at night,” said Black.
Michael Levy, the public affairs officer for the Ocean City Police
Department, where a helmet law has been in effect for over a year for rented
scooters, agreed with Black when it comes to wearing tinted glasses at night.
“There is a common sense element that is very hard to enforce,” said Levy.
In Ocean City, Levy said an officer would probably stop and question someone
wearing sunglasses at night, but it would depend on the situation whether they
would be issued a citation.
Levy also sent out a warning to those heading to Ocean City who plan to ride
or rent a moped or scooter.
"Here in Ocean City, you better have insurance, you better wear a helmet, and
you better make sure you have eye protection.”
— Chris Leyden
