Sean C. Morgan
Motorized scooters have become a hot topic at Sweet Home Police Department with a rising number of complaints and questions about them.
“Motorized scooters are very popular right now,” Police Chief Bob Burford said.
Motorized scooters are typically two-wheeled scooters with a small motor designed not to exceed 15 mph.
“They’re being given as gifts to kids under 16,” Chief Burford said. “The law does not allow anyone under 16 to operate them on a public highway.”
A 14-year-old could ride a motorized scooter but not on a public street, Chief Burford said.
Riders need to wear helmets but do not need motorcycle endorsements. They must obey the rules of the road as well and cannot be on a street with a speed limit higher than 25 mph.
The scooters must use bicycle lanes where available. They cannot be ridden on sidewalks. They must be walked when using a crosswalk.
Persons are not allowed to carry items that prevent them from having at least one hand on the handlebars and maintaining full control over the machine.
Police have been receiving a number of questions about whether the scooters are lawful and who can ride them, Chief Burford said. “We’re receiving complaints about them being ridden in an unlawful, dangerous manner….
“The other big point is that the parents or guardian who allows their son or daughter who is not 16 to operate one of these on a public highway will receive a citation for endangering the operator of the scooter, and that in itself is a traffic violation punishable by a maximum $25 fine.”
The rules are new, and “we’re still reading them,” Chief Burford said. The scooters are getting more common and persons can expect police to enforce the laws.
In other areas of law enforcement, Chief Burford said, it’s that time of year when garage sale signs start going up on street corners around town.
“City code says that you can’t put any sign, advertisement, poster, anything, on anyone else’s property, public or private, which includes power poles, phone lines, traffic signals or putting a box with something written on it, unless you obtain permission from the person in control of the property,” Chief Burford said.
The violation is punishable by a fine of up to $250.
Part of the reasoning behind the code is safety, Chief Burford said. With the signs, nails or staples are left behind on poles and could be dangerous to utility workers. They use buckets to reach overhead wires rather than climbing more often nowadays, so the safety concern is not as great as it used to be.
An additional reason for the law is that the signs make the town look junky, Chief Burford said.
Chief Burford suggests getting a post that can be stuck into the ground with a sign attached and get permission.
“Most people have no problem if they’re asked first,” Chief Burford said. Police do not want to write citations for this, but when a complaint comes in and the location of the violator is written on the sign, they have little choice.