New law, motorized scooter owners to have license
By MAURICE O. NDOLE
A new law that took effect Jan. 1 requires operators of motorized scooters
to have a valid California driver’s license or instruction permit.
Owners of motorized scooters, two-wheeled motorbike-like vehicles with
upright handles that reach slightly below the waist, will in effect be
eligible for a citation if found in violation of the law.
According to a memorandum released by university police, the use of motorized
scooters has been prohibited on unless the scooter has been equipped properly
with a maintained muffler.
“We are just trying to make the students aware of the new law so
that they can be cautious,” David Huerta, university police chief
said.
``Most
of those people drive at about 15 mph. They should just have a couple
of rules they should follow. They should make them take like a psychological
test, because some people think it’s a toy, but it’s not
a toy.”
|
- LUIS GUITIERRES
Liberal Studies Major |
The memorandum also prohibits recreational use of motorized and non-motorized
scooters and in-line skates on campus.
Liberal Arts major Luis Gutierrez said he thought the law was unnecessary.
“Most of those people drive at about 15 mph. They should just have
a couple of rules they should follow,” Gutierrez said. “They
should make them take like a psychological test, because some people think
it’s a toy, but it’s not a toy.”
Public relations major Jill Fuchser also said the new law was unnecessary.
“I don’t think it will be necessary to have a drivers license
as long as they’re 16 yearsold.” Fuchser said. “I think
the law they had in 2000 was good enough.”
In 2000, motorized scooter operators were not required to have a driver’s
license.
Freshman Veronica Picinni, said the rule prohibiting recreational skateboarding
around campus was unfair.
“I don’t see a problem with us coming here when people are
not there it’s not like we want to cause trouble,” Picinni
said.
The law, sponsored by Assemblywoman Wilma Chan, D-Oakland, also prohibits
manufacturers and retailers from seling motorized scooters producing more
than 80 decibels of sound within a distance of 50 feet.
According to the AAA website, the law additionally prohibits a person
from altering or modifying the exhaust system of a motorized scooter in
violation of specified noise restrictions and muffler requirements.
The new law, which is amended from an existing law that took effect in
January 2000, previously required users of motorized scooters to be at
least 16 years old, to wear a bicycle helmet regardless of the age and
to drive at a speed of not more than 25 mph except on marked bicycle lanes,
among other rules.
The new law; however, allows people under the age of 16 to ride the scooters
after obtaining instruction.
The permit can be acquired six months before their 16th birthday.
Injuries related to motorized scooters have been on the increase according
to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Most of the injuries involved children under the age 16, who were not
wearing helmets.
|
