Scooter Question

[fumblerette1.livejournal.com]

I bought a scooter a few weeks ago. I have a Piaggio Fly 50. The engine size is 50ccs, and I do not have a motorcycle license, no plates on it, and I don't pay vehicular insurance. I was told both by the dealership and have read from various sources online that my scooter is considered a moped and that I can legally park it on the sidewalk. I've been merrily doing so, until this morning when I woke up to a note on my apartment door from my landlady saying that the parking control officer told her that I can't park my scooter on the sidewalk anymore, and that they can tow it. Is there some sort of somerville law that's different? Is there any legal standing to this? My street is resident parking only, but my scooter doesn't have (and isn't eligible for) a resident sticker. Can I legally park it on the street? I'd prefer to have it chained to something which is why I've been parking it on the sidewalk chained to a street sign (like several other bicycles on my street).

So...am I legally allowed to park it on the sidewalk or not? I really don't want to get towed. Can I get towed if I am chained to something? Will they actually break my lock or cut down the street sign? I want to do the legal thing here, but I don't want to get a ticket for parking in the street without a resident sticker either...Help?

ETA: I called 311 and they said I am definitely 100% legally allowed to park on the sidewalk, and not only do i not need a resident sticker, I can't get one. Looks like either someone lied to my landlady, or she was being passive aggressive. (If anybody cares to know, I wrote her a note saying I called 311 and they said I am legally allowed to park on the sidewalk. If the cop contacts her again, I'd like to get his name and badge number and report him for giving out false information. I can't park in the street without a sticker, there's no place for me to lock it up in the driveway, so from now on I'm parking on the sidewalk but I'll do a better job to make sure it takes up as little room as possible.)

ETA2: The issue gets even more confusing! Just had a nice chat with my landlady (who as it turns out was not being passive aggressive at all). She called the traffic department this morning who said that I cannot park on the sidewalk. Then she saw the note I left her, and she called the police department who said that I *can* park on the sidewalk, as long as I am not blocking the sidewalk. The neighbor who left the note on my scooter is going to help rig up something in the driveway so I can lock my scooter up there and that will solve any issues. Also, for anyone who's curious, someone from the globe is doing an article on rules and regulations for mopeds, and interviewed me today. Article will either be in this sunday or the following sunday's paper in the community section. He said he was going to call our lovely leader Tom Champion and see what further info he could dig up. I'm looking forward to seeing what he finds.

Comments

[thespian.livejournal.com]

you sure that there was actually a parking control officer, and not just a landlady who doesn't want you to park on her sidewalk? It sounds sort of passive aggressive.

[fumblerette1.livejournal.com]

I don't know for sure. She's a really sweet landlady, but I did just move in and don't know her that well. The note she left me said: "last night the parking patrol said that you cannot keep the vespa on the sidewalk. the police can tow it. Let's talk on sunday about where would be the best place to park it." Then the next door neighbor left me a not right ON my scooter saying "hi neighbor. I love scooters! And I like my neighbors. Can I help you figure out a way to park your scooter not on the sidewalk?" with his name and number.

I've been leaving it chained to the fence in front of my building. If they don't like it there, I'm happy to park it at a street sign a few houses down, but I'm parking it on the sidewalk if I legally can. Sheesh.

[chumbolly.livejournal.com]

This sounds like two nice people who are trying really hard to be non-confrontational yet at the same time say "we really don't like it when you park your scooter on the sidewalk." I've left very similar notes on neighbors cars when they consistently park in such a way as to take up two spaces instead of one.

My advice, forget about the specifics of the motor vehicle code; just be neighborly and work with them to find a better place to park it.