*** Legislature Moving Toward A Crack-Down On Minibikes ***

BOSTON, MA (AP) -- 08/21/2004
The state Legislature has taken steps to crack down on minibikes,
those 2-foot-high motorcycle imitations that have a lot of people upset.

Every state legislator in this building has received call after call
from
concerned citizens awoken a midnight to what sounds like a lawn
mower zooming the wrong way down the street, playing Russian
roulette with oncoming traffic," said state Sen. Jarrett R. Barrio,
a Somerville Democrat who chairs the Joint Committee on Public
Safety. "Young people are using them in great number, and with
reckless abandon."

The House on Thursday passed a bill requiring drivers of the
mini-motorbikes and Segway scooters to be at least 16 years
old, have a valid driver's license and to obey the rules of the road,
such as staying off sidewalks and bicycle paths, driving on the proper
side of the street and using turn signals. The scooter operators also
would not be allowed to go faster than 20 mph, or drive after dark.

The state Senate already has adopted the measure.

Also yesterday, the Legislature sent to Governor Romney
a bill requiring that anyone 16 or younger wear a helmet
while riding bikes, scooters, skateboards or in-line skates.

Under current law, children 12 and younger must wear helmets
while riding bicycles on public paths or roads. There are no helmet
requirements in state law for people using skateboards, in-line skates
and manually propelled scooters on public ways, said an aide to the
Committee on Public Safety.

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