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New law widens scooter habitat Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Eleven-year-old electric scooter testers Wyatt Small, left, and Layne Padilla take a few turns around a course at Loco Motion in the Rogue Valley Mall. A new law allows scooters to be ridden on public property with some restrictions. By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune Wyatt Small's laughter easily overpowers the quiet hum of his electric scooter as he loops round and round a carpeted track inside Loco Motion at the Rogue Valley Mall. "That was fun," said the grinning 11-year-old Medford boy, who was a bit breathless from the short ride. "They go so fast!" What's a scooter? Motor-assisted scooters have been defined under SB 173 and must meet the following guidelines if ridden off private property. Motorized scooters cannot have more than three wheels. Gas or electric scooters must have handlebars and a foot support or seat for the operator's use. It must be propelled by motor or human propulsion. Each one must be equipped with a power source that won't allow the scooter to travel more than 24 mph on level ground. If gasoline-powered, the engine cannot have more than a 35 cubic centimeter displacement. If electric-powered, it cannot have an output greater than 1,000 watts. Family friend Mike Padilla brought Wyatt to Loco Motion on Monday, spending $1 so the boy could learn firsthand what all the fuss is about. The two left unsure whether the fuss was worth the price, which ranges from $200 to $400. "We're into dirt bikes, anything that goes," Padilla said. "It isn't a bad price for all that fun." Sales of electric scooters spiked over the holiday season, said Loco Motion owner Cal Hoover. And that newfound popularity has led to changes in state law that once restricted them to private property only. Starting Tuesday, Oregon residents could ride motor-assisted scooters on public roads and bike paths, thanks to a law passed by the 2001 Legislature. According to Medford Sgt. Roy Skinner, people who are 16 and older can now operate a self-propelled scooter on public roadways that have a speed limit of 25 mph or less. The law also allows electric scooters on bike paths, but riders must adhere to the 15 mph speed limit. Scooters are not allowed on sidewalks. Riders must wear a helmet, and must adhere to a variety of laws, including those pertaining to intoxicated driving. Motor-assisted scooters are exempt from Driver and Motor Vehicle Services title and registration requirements and do not need to be insured, however. Last year, Medford police responded to several complaints of illegal use of self-propelled scooters, usually issuing warnings in lieu of citations, Skinner said. "It was a gray area," Skinner said. "Eventually, there has to be regulation or limitation." The new law provides some relief to Hoover, who said the old rule forbidding riders to drive on public property put him between a rock and a hard place. "Most people have been buying the scooters, regardless," he said. "More and more, you see them out on the street." Hoover said he's pleased by the new law but not happy about the age limit. "I think the age, in my opinion, is out of line," he said. "Most kids who turn 16 aren't looking to ride a scooter. They want to drive a car. "That's really going to upset a lot of people who bought electric scooters this year." Skinner anticipates officers will issue several warnings or citations to young riders who aren't content to follow the new rules. He said that riders must obtain permission from property owners before scooting across yards and fields. Other new driving legislation The 2001 Legislature enacted or revised a number of laws governing Oregon drivers. According to Driver and Motor Vehicle Services, most of these new rules went into effect Tuesday. Four strikes for intoxicated drivers - SB 492 requires Oregon courts to permanently revoke a person's driving privileges following a felony conviction for driving under the influence of intoxicants. A felony DUII is defined as the fourth DUII conviction a person has received in a 10-year period. Offenders are not eligible for hardship permits but may petition the court for driving privileges 10 years after the revocation. Tougher penalties for illegal drivers - HB 3594 raises the criminal classification for people caught driving with a suspended or revoked license. The law makes the offense a class B felony rather than a class C. A class B felony could result in a maximum 10-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $200,000. A class C felony carries a maximum five-year prison term and a $100,000 fine. Twenty chances and you're out - SB 432 stipulates that a person's license will be revoked if the offender has been convicted of 20 or more driving infractions within five years. The DMV is selecting applicable offenses. A few include intoxicated or reckless driving, driving with a suspended or revoked license and attempting to elude police in a vehicle. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.