*** Somerton council considering ordinance for scooters ***

SOMERTON, AZ (AP) — 06/23/2004
Riding a scooter may be the latest trend for getting around this
rapidly growing city, but city officials are concerned for the safety
of the children who use them.

Children as young as 10-years-old can be seen riding through city
parks and buzzing in and out of streets to get to their destination
on the motorized skateboards, also referred to as scooters.

City council members recently were able to look over a draft
ordinance that would regulate the use of motorized skateboards
on city streets, city officials said. The ordinance could be passed
in the next couple of months.

Mayor Agustin Tumbaga said parents have called members over
the past few months expressing their concerns that more and more
children are riding these scooters freely around town without any
protective gear or regulations to help ensure their safety.

As a result, Somerton Police Chief Terry Hollis recently conducted
research of several different city ordinances in Arizona that regulate
the use of motorized skateboards on the streets.

Hollis said the residents started seeing a rise of scooters on city
streets in December. Although there have been no serious accidents
involving scooters in Somerton, he said there have been reports of
several close calls.

"We want to educate them before anything tragic happens,"
Hollis said.

After looking at ordinances from Peoria, Scottsdale, Flagstaff,
Tempe and Mesa, he said the draft ordinance the city is considering
is tailored most after the Mesa ordinance.

He said although the ordinance currently contains an age minimum
requirement of 14, officials are considering lowering that age
requirement,
or leaving it up to the parent's discretion.

Tumbaga said his biggest concern is that 14 may be too old, as
many of the scooters are operated by children 10 and 12 years old.
As a result, Tumbaga and council members want parents and children
to voice their opinions regarding the age limit and any other issues
before the ordinance is passed, he said.

Officials said the ordinance is scheduled to be looked at again at
the next council meeting at 7 p.m. on July 6 at the Library Annex,
240 W. Canal St.

"Hopefully the parents will respond and give us some input,"
Tumbaga said.

The mayor said he hopes the ordinance will be similar
to a scooter ordinance being proposed in Yuma.

The draft ordinance defines a "motorized skateboard" as a
"self-propelled device" that has a motor and a flat deck
where a person can ride.

The ordinance would allow the scooters to operate on roadways,
and they would be granted all the rights subject to a regular
automobile.

Licensing, registration and insurance of the
scooters would not be required by the ordinance.

It would allow minors to ride on city streets, but only if a written
consent form is signed by the child's parent or legal guardian. The
form would need to contain the name and birth of the minor, the
residence address and a telephone number. It would also be the
parent's responsibility to ensure the child knows and understands
the regulations.

The ordinance would prohibit operation on city parks, sidewalks
or on private property. No scooter would be allowed on roadways
with a posted speed limit of more than 25 miles per hour. But City
Manager Cliff O'Neal said the council members are considering
prohibiting the operation of scooters on Main Street as well,
even though it has a speed limit of 25 mph.

Also, scooters would only be allowed on the
streets from sunrise to sunset, O'Neil said.

The ordinance would not allow operators to
exceed the posted speed limit or to carry passengers.

Safety equipment required would be footwear that covers the
entire foot and toes, the ordinance states. Also, it states a
person riding a scooter shall wear protective glasses or goggles.

Minors operating scooters would be required to
wear protective helmets such as bicycle helmets, it states.

"We're not out to give people tickets," Hollis said. "We want
to educate people to be able to have fun. And at the same time
be safe and be protected by the safety equipment that's required
that they have."

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