Last night, on my way home I was driving down the road, I was just about to come to a stop sign when a person on a moped pulled onto the street, very fast, did'nt quite make the turn and ran straight into the curb. The man flipped over the handle bars. I looked around, noticed that I was the only person who saw this happen. I put my car in park, turned on my hazard lights, and walked toward him. I yelled to him asking if he was ok. He kept mumbling something about needing to be more carefull, that's when I noticed the smell of alcohol. He kept trying to get up and I kept telling him to stay still. Blood is running down his face dripping off his nose, there is blood on one arm and running down one of his legs. I yelled to some kids down the street to call 911. The man that wrecked was probebly 60ish, and pretty drunk and pretty banged up. He finally stood up, would'nt take my advice on staying still, and kept asking me to help him lift up his moped. I kept saying "Sir, you cannot leave, just leave the moped alone". He kept saying over and over that he just wanted to sit on the bike. He lifted the moped and got on it. I'm holding on to the back of the seat, like Im really going to be able to stop him from taking off, and looking for a license # , of course there is no license or any identifying number or anything on it. Then he procedes to put his key in and start the moped, all the while I'm saying "Sir, you are injured, you cannot leave!" About that time , thank God, the police, ambulance, and a fire truck showed up. I walked straght to the police car and told him what happened and that I think the mans been drinking. That is when I noticed that I had his blood on my arm, the police officer and myself cleaned and checked my arm. Thank God I did'nt have any scratches or cuts in that area. They took my name and number and I left. What a night! Oh, the kicker....the police sort of chuckled and said "We get calls about this guy at least 10 times a month for this exact kind of thing!" What??? That made me mad, he could hurt someone next time, but I guess that doesn't matter....

By Enchens on Thursday, June 14, 2007 - 12:34 pm:

Unbelievable! 10 times a month??? What is it going to take for someone to do something?

By Bellajoe on Thursday, June 14, 2007 - 02:55 pm:

"We get calls about this guy at least 10 times a month for this exact kind of thing!"


this exact kind of thing is called DRUNK DRIVING, hello???

His moped should be taken away from him, end of story. Unbelievable!

You were a good person to stop and try to help him though.

By Cocoabutter on Thursday, June 14, 2007 - 04:07 pm:

In Indiana, a moped is not considered a motor vehicle. That may have something to do with why the police haven't taken the guy off the road.

http://www.in.gov/bmv/driverlicense/manual/chapter1.pdf

Motorized Bicycles:
A motorized bicycle, commonly known as a “moped,” is distinguished under Indiana law
by having no more than two-horse power, a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cubic centimeters,
and an automatic transmission. Such a vehicle is not considered a “motor vehicle.”
Vehicles with engines exceeding these limits are motorcycles, and a person must meet the
licensing requirements to operate such a vehicle legally. A manufacturer’s certificate of origin or
a certificate of title, if any, to the vehicle will indicate whether such vehicle is a motorized bicycle
or a motorcycle.
The following requirements apply to the operator of a motorized bicycle:
• An operator of a motorized bicycle must be at least 15 years of age.
• An operator of a motorized bicycle must have a valid driver license or have a current BMVissued
identification card in his or her possession.
• A motorized bicycle may not be operated on an interstate highway or at a speed in excess of
25 miles per hour.
• If an individual is under the age of 18, they are required to wear protect headgear and
protective glasses, goggles or transparent face shield.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Thursday, June 14, 2007 - 05:17 pm:

A moped may not be considered a motor vehicle, as in needing to be registered as one. But according to what I have seen on the news around here. Anything that you willfully operate will intoxicated, that poses a risk to yourself and others, is considered operating under the influence. Thus.. he should have been cleaned up and arrested.. At a minimum for, public intoxication. He could have been on a horse in Ohio and he would have gone to jail and been charged.

We have regular reports about people getting picked up for the 13 plus offense of driving while drunk.. 13 charges?? How and why are these people still on the streets??

Anyway, good for you for doing a good deed.. ^5 on the stepping out of the safety zone to help another.. Even if it was the tenth call on him this month "for the exact kind of thing"... Grr...

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, June 14, 2007 - 05:20 pm:

NOT a motor vehicle? But it is one! LOL! They certainly are propelled with something! Sheesh. I can't believe that guy is a habitual offender and they do nothing! I guess until he kills someone, they don't do anything.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Thursday, June 14, 2007 - 05:22 pm:

... Anything that you willfully operate WHILE intoxicated...

By Cocoabutter on Thursday, June 14, 2007 - 05:46 pm:

Not that I don't agree with you all. I was just pointing out that he police may not be lawfully able to arrest the drunk. It seems that what he was doing amounts to nothing more than riding a pedal bike while intoxicated.

Public intoxication, that may be another avenue that the police can explore....

But you did the right thing. I am glad that you were #11 this month.

Perhaps you could send a letter to the chief of police in your city with regard specifically to this man and this incident. You could even write to your city commissioner or state representative. If the laws were more specific with regard to operating a non-motor vehicle while intoxicated, there may be more the police could do.