“Motor Vehicle” License Requirements

The statutory provisions governing driver’s licenses in Florida are contained in Chapter 322, Florida Statutes. Under Section 322.03, Florida Statutes, “a person may not drive any motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless such person has a valid driver’s license issued under [Chapter 322].” Under Section 322.34, Florida Statutes, a person who drives a motor vehicle upon a highway while his or her driver’s license has been canceled, suspended, or revoked, commits a either a moving violation or a criminal traffic offense, depending on whether the person knew of the suspension, cancellation, or revocation. View our web page on driving with a suspended, revoked, or canceled driver’s license.

Definition of a “Motor Vehicle” for Purposes of Chapter 322, Florida Statutes

A person charged with Driving with a Suspended or Revoked License will be prosecuted under Chapter 322 of the Florida Statutes. The definition of “motor vehicle” for offenses committed under Chapter 322 is contained in Section 322.01(27), Florida Statutes. Section 322.01(27) defines “motor vehicle” as:

[A]ny self-propelled vehicle, including a motor vehicle combination, not operated upon rails or guideway, excluding vehicles moved solely by human power, motorized wheelchairs, and motorized bicycles as defined in [Section] 316.003 [Florida Statutes].

Although 322.01(27) refers to Section 316.003 as the definition of “motorized bicycle,” in actuality Section 316.003 defines the term “bicycle” and contains within the definition of “bicycle” a description of “motorized bicycle.” However, Florida courts have universally interpreted this description as the operative definition of motorized bicycle for purposes of the licensure requirements of Chapter 322. Section 316.003(2), Florida Statutes, defines bicycle (and motorized bicycle) as follows:

[E]very vehicle propelled solely by human power, and every motorized bicycle propelled by a combination of human power and an electric helper motor capable of propelling the vehicle at a speed of not more than 20 miles per hour on level ground . . . having two tandem wheels, and including any device generally recognized as a bicycle though equipped with two front or two rear wheels.

Florida Case Law: “Mopeds”

Florida courts have specifically addressed the requirement of driver’s license in the context of a so-called “moped” operated on public highway. In State v. Meister, 849 So. 2d 1127 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003), the defendant was charged under Section 322.34, Florida Statutes, for driving on a suspended license while operating a moped. The moped in question had a displacement of less than 50 cc, did not exceed two horsepower, and had pedals to permit propulsion by human power so as to supplement the gasoline engine. The defendant moved to dismiss the charges, arguing that the “moped” was not a motor vehicle for purposes of Section 316.003(21), Florida Statutes.

On appeal, the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal held that a moped was a “motor vehicle” for purposes of charges brought under Chapter 322.34. Using the definition of motor vehicle contained in Section 322.01(27), the court concluded that a moped was a self-propelled vehicle and was in no way excluded from the definition of motor vehicle for purposes of the Florida driver’s license statute. Thus, regardless of how the term moped was defined for purposes of Chapter 316 (pertaining to traffic control matters), the operative definition for driver’s license requirements was that contained in Section 322.01. The Court furthermore rejected the argument that the differing definition of motor vehicle in Chapter 316 rendered Section 322.34 unconstitutionally vague or ambiguous.

As in Meister, other Florida courts have rejected the argument that a gasoline moped is excluded from the definition of “Motor Vehicle” so as not to require a driver’s license. See Wood v. State, 717 So. 2d 617 (Fla. 1st DCA 1998) (holding that a moped is a “motor vehicle” which requires a driver’s license for operation under 322.34); Jones v. State, 721 So. 2d 320 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998) (holding that a valid driver’s license is required for the operation of a “moped” under 322.34(2)).

Florida Case Law: Electric “Scooters”

Florida courts have further rejected the argument that an electric scooter is not a “motor vehicle” in the context of a charge brought under Section 322.34, Florida Statutes (driving on a suspended or revoked license). In Inman v. State, 916 So. 2d 59 (Fla. 2d DCA 2005), the defendant was cited for driving on a suspended or revoked driver’s license while driving a seated, two-wheeled, battery powered electric scooter on a public street. The scooter did not have pedals and thus was powered exclusively by its electric motor. The defendant moved to dismiss the charge, arguing that a scooter with an electric motor was not a motor vehicle as defined in Chapter 322.

On appeal, the Second District Court of Appeal of Florida held that, because the defendant’s vehicle did not operate by a combination of an electric motor and human pedaling, the vehicle fell outside of the definition of motorized bicycle as contained in Section 322.01(27). Thus, the defendant could be properly convicted of driving on a suspended or revoked license, even if his electric scooter had many of the key attributes of a motorized bicycle.

Summary: Mopeds and Motorized Bicycles

Chapter 322, Florida Statutes requires the operator of a “motor vehicle” on a highway of the state to have a valid license. As defined in Chapter 322, “Motor vehicle” is anything that is self-propelled, but does not include bicycles and qualifying “motorized bicycles.” As defined in Section 316.003, “Motorized bicycle” means that the bicycle is not capable of self-propulsion, but is propelled instead by a combination of human power and an electric helper motor at a speed of not more than 20 miles per hour on level ground.

In interpreting this provision, Florida appellate courts have taken the view that the law means exactly what it says. If it is a vehicle powered by gasoline, it requires a license. If the vehicle is powered exclusively by battery, it requires a license. If the propulsion for the vehicle does not derive from a simultaneous combination human and electric power, then it requires a license. Only those vehicles falling within the narrow exception provided in 316.003 are exempt from the requirement of a driver’s license.