*** What rules apply to scooter riders? ***

Roseburg, Oregon -- 07/29/2004
Question: B.C. of Roseburg wants to know what's up with all of
the motorized scooters he's seen on the road lately and what rules
scooter riders need to follow.

Question: Ray Dean, general sales manager at Lithia Ford,
said the company ordered about 15 or 20 scooters that have
a seat and a small engine that can reach about 30 miles per hour.
They were purchased a couple of weeks ago primarily for employees.
People driving by purchased the remaining few.

Cpl. Marty Larner, with the Roseburg police traffic unit,
said he's noticed more scooters than usual around town lately.

"It's one of those phenomenons. It's a little fad,"
he said.

Typical scooter violations tend to be the same as those of bicyclists
-- "either they're not wearing a helmet or running stop signs," he said.

According to the Roseburg Police Department, scooter riders must
be 16 or older and wear a helmet. They cannot ride on a sidewalk
and must ride in a bicycle lane on roads with speed limits above 25
miles per hour. Otherwise, they must remain on the right side of the
road. They cannot travel faster than 15 miles per hour.

Moped riders follow separate rules that are similar to motorcyclists.
The primary distinction to scooters is that mopeds have more powerful
engines and can reach 45 miles per hour or more. Moped riders must
have a valid Class "C" drivers license and mopeds have to be insured
and registered. Mopeds cannot be in bike lanes or paths unless the
vehicle is operated by pedals. Riders must have a motorcycle-type
helmet and turn on headlights when driving on a highway.

Geneb...Wenatchee,Washington-USA
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