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47 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, April 20, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend April 8, 2004 Police put scooter riders on notice By JACK MORAN Mail Tribune Medford police want scooter owners to know that their free ride is about to end. Laws regulating the use of scooters haven’t been on the books very long, and most riders are unaware of their responsibilities on the road, Medford police Lt. Mike Moran said. "We’ve seen more and more of these during the past three or four years," Moran said. "They’re being operated, to some degree, somewhat carelessly." Because many riders seem to be ignorant of the law, Medford police say that in the short term, they will be glad to give illegal scooter riders an education, rather than a costly citation. "Education is usually the most powerful thing, and that’s what we’re going to do first," Moran said. "We’ve been fairly lenient, but we want people to know the rules. Advertisement "Within short order, I think people can expect to be cited for this." In Medford, police say the most common scooter-law violations include riders who zig-zag between pedestrians on downtown sidewalks instead of riding safely on the street, and riders who are younger than 16. Scooter rider Rob Hamilton of Medford said he knows helmets are required, but mistakenly believed the maximum speed limit for scooters was 30 mph. Although gas-powered scooters can run as fast as 25 mph, state law restricts them to no more than 15 mph. "It’s really 15? I didn’t know that," Hamilton said. "That’s news to me. I knew I couldn’t go on a freeway with one, but that’s all I ever heard." In separate instances Tuesday afternoon, Medford police stopped two scooters on sidewalks near the busy intersection of Eighth Street and Central Avenue. Both riders were told about the law and sent on their way. "The ultimate goal is safety of everyone in town — including people who ride these," Moran said. A word of warning to parents of teenage riders: State law says any adult who allows a child younger than 16 to operate a scooter on a public street can be cited and fined. And sidewalks are off- limits to all scooter riders. Kids under 16 can ride them on private property, such as a driveway. "I’ve seen lots of kids riding," Moran said. "When you first see these scooters, they look like fun. But they are dangerous. "There’s a reason why it’s 16, and it’s because it puts kids at risk," he said. "Parents need to know what the laws are, too." Motorized scooter laws Operator must be at least 16. Operator must wear a helmet. No license, insurance or registration required. No lights or turn signals are required, except when riding at night. Operator is responsible for necessary hand signals. Maximum speed limit is 15 mph. If there is a bike lane, operator must use it. Can only operate a scooter on roads with speed limits of 25 mph or less, unless operator is crossing a highway or is in a bicycle lane. Cannot be operated on a sidewalk, except to enter and leave adjacent property. Operator must walk a scooter in a crosswalk. Operator cannot carry a passenger on a scooter. Maximum limit on gas motor is 35 cc; on electric motor is 1000 watts. If over these limits, vehicle is considered a "moped" and falls under more stringent requirements. Source: Medford police Reach reporter Jack Moran at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times