*** Cities grapple with scooters, kids ***

West Richland, Washington (AP) -- 06/17/2004
They go by many names -- motorized scooters, minibikes
and powerboards -- and they are causing thousands of injuries
and big headaches for cities and police across the country.

Locally, the most serious accident occurred June 5, when
10-year-old Jordan Davis of West Richland was killed
when a minibike he was riding ran in front of a truck.

Less serious injuries are more commonplace. In 2002, the
latest year for which information is available, 5,900 people
were treated in hospital emergency rooms across the country
for scooter-related injuries, said Mark Ross, spokesman for
the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The most common injuries were wrist and arm fractures,
he said.

The agency doesn't have an estimate of the number of deaths
caused by scooter and minibike injuries, Ross said. He said that's
because it relies on state death certificates for those figures, and
those take several years to compile.

Cities throughout the Mid-Columbia have been grappling with
the popularity of the zippy, two-wheeled devices because of
concerns over the noise they cause and the dangers they pose.

Pasco and Kennewick are considering drafting ordinances to
regulate use and operation of the scooters. Yakima and
Walla Walla also are looking at the problem.

In West Richland, where Jordan was killed, city officials have
talked about possibly regulating scooters but have not found
any model ordinances to build on, said West Richland police
Lt. Layne Erdman. He said the city is not working on an ordinance.

Richland also does not have an ordinance, said City Attorney
Tom Lampson, adding that he has not received any requests
to look into the issue.

Pasco has been looking into a scooter ordinance for several
months, said City Manager Gary Crutchfield. He said there
have been several complaints about near misses and noise
involving the machines.

But Crutchfield said the first report he received from city staff
was that it may be difficult to prepare an ordinance. "We have
to be careful how we craft the local rules because of what the
state allows," he said.

Police Chief Denis Austin is supposed to provide a report to the
city council by the end of the month, but he and Crutchfield told
the council Monday that it may be up to the state to act.

The problem is the scooters are regulated like bicycles
and can be driven on sidewalks and streets.

"Most are being driven by kids with no driving training
and it's causing some havoc," Crutchfield said.

Kennewick also has received complaints about scooters.

Lisa Beaton, Kennewick assistant city attorney, said her
office is reviewing an ordinance drafted by the police department.

"We will be able to regulate some things, including where
they are ridden and the wearing of helmets," she said.

She was not sure when the ordinance will
be ready to present to the city council.

At the state level, three bills were introduced in the Legislature
this year and one last year dealing with motorized scooters. One
of this year's bills would have banned them. However, none of
the bills were approved.

One problem with regulating the machines is legally defining them.

For instance, the West Richland police report described the
two-wheeled motorized device that Jordan was riding as a minibike,
but Erdman said it meets the definition of a motorized scooter in state
law.
The law doesn't mention the word minibike.

The CPSC's Ross said defining the devices is complicated
because so many evolutions of the popular vehicles are hitting
the market.

State law defines a motor scooter as any powered vehicle
with 10-inch wheels or smaller, with handlebars, that can be
ridden in a standing or sitting position. The law also does not
require a rider to have a license nor register the scooter.

"It falls under the same authority as a bicycle,"
Erdman said.

Another problem is that no protective gear, such as helmets,
is required to ride a scooter.

But Erdman said police "absolutely recommend"
using safety equipment.

The CPSC also recommends the use of helmets and elbow
and knee pads. It further recommends that children under 12
not drive motorized scooters, and that they should not be
driven in roadways.

But laws can only do so much. As a parent himself, Erdman said,
he believes parents need to take responsibility.

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