Police take stance on motorized play vehicles
June 22, 2008
Lake Saint Louis
Chief Michael Force of the Lake Saint Louis Police Department reminds citizens that motorized bicycles and motorized play vehicles including vehicles commonly referred to as “pocket bikes” are severely restricted in the City of Lake Saint Louis. He says that improper use of these vehicles has become a serious safety hazard in that community.
Several Missouri statutes regulate the use of motorized bicycles or mopeds. The term “motorized bicycle” is defined by law as any two- or three-wheeled device having an automatic transmission and a motor with a cylinder capacity of not more than fifty cubic centimeters (50 cc), which produces less than three gross brake horsepower, and is capable of propelling the device at a maximum speed of not more than thirty miles per hour on level ground.
Specific equipment requirements exist for motorized bicycles that ensure minimum safety standards are met. Drivers of mopeds that are not properly equipped may be issued citations for these equipment violations.
State law and local ordinances prohibit the operation of a motorized bicycle on any highway or street in the state unless the driver has a valid operator’s license. Operating a motorized bicycle on an interstate highway is prohibited, even to licensed drivers. Violation of these statutes constitutes a class C misdemeanor. Operating a motorized bicycle on a sidewalk is prohibited by state law.S
tatutes also require that operators of motorized bicycles must ride only astride the permanent, regular, attached seat. Passengers are prohibited unless the motorized vehicle is designed to carry more than one person. To be considered so, the vehicle must be equipped with a passenger seat and passenger footrests.
All bicycles and motorized bicycles must be equipped with a braking device that will enable the driver to stop the vehicle within twenty-five feet (25 ft.) from a speed of ten miles per hour on dry, level, clean pavement.
While appropriately licensed individuals who operate motorized bicycles on public streets or highways are granted all the rights of drivers as specified by law, they are equally subject to the applicable duties. Just as is the case with people riding bicycles, those operating mopeds or similar motorized vehicles are required to obey all traffic laws.
Motorized bicycles are not included in the city’s definition of “motorized play vehicles.” They are regulated by different sections of the City Code.
Motorized play vehicles, including those that are commonly referred to as “pocket bikes” are strictly regulated in the City of Lake Saint Louis. The ordinance definition of the term “motorized play vehicle” is a bit complex and contains a number of elements. According to the ordinance, a motorized play vehicle is a device that is not a motorcycle, motorized bicycle or motor vehicle.
These devices are further defined as having two or more wheels and being designed to be ridden in or upon. The final element is that a motorized play vehicle is powered by a motor that is capable of propelling the device with or without human propulsion. There is an exception in the definition for legitimate devices used by physically disabled persons such as electric wheelchairs.
According to ordinance, motorized play vehicles are prohibited on any public street, highway, sidewalk, bike lane, or anywhere within the boundaries of a City park. Parents, guardians, legal custodians and those caring for minors are admonished in the ordinance that they “shall not authorize or knowingly permit such minor to violate any provisions” of the ordinance.
Consequently, if a fine is imposed on a minor who violated the ordinance, any adult having physical custody of the youth is jointly and severally liable for payment of the fine, whether or not the adult was aware of the infraction or anticipated a violation would occur.
Chief Force explained, “Basically, the only place individuals can ride pocket bikes is on private property and adults are held responsible if they allow their youngsters to ride them anyplace else in the city.”
When asked why such an apparently stringent ordinance was enacted, Chief Force responded, “It is a rather serious safety issue, not an attempt to inhibit anyone’s fun. The problem with individuals, especially juveniles, operating these things on or near the roadways is that pocket bikes are so low-profile that drivers can’t see them approaching. They look like toys, so some parents consider them harmless and allow their kids to ride them. The reality is that they are far from harmless – especially in the hands of a youngster with no driving experience and no knowledge of the rules of the road. So, this ordinance was enacted to protect our youngsters, to remove a hazard to drivers, and to make parents responsible for supervising their children’s use of the devices.”
Chief Force concluded by saying, “Strict enforcement of the ban on pocket bikes, other motorized play vehicles and motorized bicycles may seem extreme, but it is a matter of public safety. It is especially important now because we have seen a major increase in traffic volume. With highway construction underway and reconstruction of Lake Saint Louis Boulevard scheduled for the near future, and given the growth of the community, we aren’t going to see a reverse of that trend any time soon, if ever. We do not want to see a child injured or killed on one of these things. We want parents to join us in our efforts to prevent that.”
Copyright 2008 Neighbors About Town