Many Cities Banning Motorized Scooters And "Pocket Bikes"
They're small, fast and extremely popular. And a growing number of cities are now either banning, or attempting to restrict the use of both motorized scooters and miniature motorcycles.
From a distance, these miniature motorcycles look exactly like their big-brother counterparts. But don't let their size fool you. Some of these can go up to thirty miles per hour.
Gas and electric powered scooters are also growing in popularity. But many communities throughout the country are banning these bikes on public paths and roadways because of safety concerns. Right now, there are no such laws for these vehicles in either Lufkin or Nacogdoches.
"The state law gives leeway for cities to set their own regulations for their own streets and such, but it would have to be defined out as to the vehicle that we're talking about." says Lt. Greg Denman with the Lufkin Police Department.
Current laws around here treat these vehicles almost the same as bicycles.
"You don't have to be licensed for them, you don't have to wear helmets, really, it falls for anything that size, and for an age, it falls parental." says Lt. Denman.
One dealer we spoke with agrees that it all boils down to parental supervision.
"When you see a kid riding a pocket rocket, a little motorcycle or even an electric scooter in an area he shouldn't be, chances are he was riding something else in that area and he just needs mom and dad to get a hold of him and tell him 'Hey, this is where you ride it if you don't it goes in the garage.'" says Ken Watkins of Ken's Scooters in Lufkin.
Ken believes the last thing we need is another law on the books.
As with any vehicle you ride on the street, motorized or not... you must still observe all traffic laws.
State Assembly Puts Brakes On Pocket Bikes
Assembly Approves Bill, 70-0
POSTED: 12:45 pm PDT May 9, 2005
SACRAMENTO -- Mini motorcycles -- commonly known as pocket bikes -- would be barred from California's streets, sidewalks and highways under a bill approved Monday by the state Assembly.
The measure by Assemblyman John Benoit of Palm Desert was sent to the Senate by a 70-0 vote.
Benoit said the bikes do not meet federal or state safety standards, but there is no vehicle code provision that bars use of them on public roadways.
Pocket bikes are only 2 feet high but can travel at speeds of more than 50 mph.
http://www.nbc4.tv/news/4467652/detail.html