*** CT City seeks pocket bike ban ***

Danbury, CT (AP) -- 11/24/2004
Danbury Common Council to ask
state legislators to create, pass law

The Common Council is adding its voice to those who want
the tiny motorcycles called "pocket bikes" removed from the road.

Council members said they plan to ask the
state legislature for a law to specifically ban the bikes.

Pocket bikes are a menace because they're shorter than bicycles,
and car and truck drivers can't see them, council members said.

"You know they're not insured, so if you hit one, it's going to
be on your insurance," said council president Vincent Nolan.

Assistant Corporation Counsel Eric Gottschalk told the council
instead of writing a city ordinance that might have limited effect,
it makes more sense to ask the legislature to pass a statewide law.

Nolan, a Republican, said he and Tom Saadi, a Democrat,
will lobby the legislature. The two were successful earlier in
a joint approach to get tax benefits for Danbury veterans.

"We'll be talking to our legislators. We want it to be
on their radar screens so they take action," Nolan said.

The issue of pocket bikes isn't on any lawmaker's top-10 list
of legislative priorities, but people are talking about them, said
state Rep. Bob Godfrey, D-Danbury.

"I'll put in a bill," Godfrey said. "The people who drive these
on the road are exploiting a loophole in state law dealing with
the definition of a vehicle. We'll close the loophole."

According to Connecticut statutes, any bicycle with a helper
motor of less than 49 cubic centimeters does not have to be
registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles or be insured.
The rider of such a bike must have a valid driver's license, though.

The state Department of Motor Vehicles issued a law enforcement
bulletin on Aug. 30 on pocket bikes, quick scooters and novelty
scooters that said: "It appears to DMV that beyond the general
statutory provisions mentioned in this bulletin, the General Statutes
do not contain any provisions that expressly address the use and
operation of 'Pocket Bikes.' "

The bulletin concluded by saying the DMV commissioner would
ask the legislature to study the issue in the coming legislative
session.

"Rather than a patchwork of laws from city to city, we need a
uniform state law," Saadi said, adding he expects the council to
have a resolution ready for its Dec. 7 meeting. "I've heard a few
towns have passed ordinances. What we really need is the state
to define and regulate a new vehicle."

Council member Joe Cavo is a member of the subcommittee
on pocket bikes with Saadi and Mary Saracino.

Cavo said he is still haunted by the memory of hitting a bicyclist
with a car when he was 17 years old. He said pocket bikes lend
themselves to similar accidents.

"It wasn't my fault, and the police gave her a ticket, but I can still
remember the whole incident very clearly," Cavo said. "To live
with the thought is horrible. These pocket bikes are in harm's way,
because people just can't see down that low."

Gene`s BMX Applauds To The Crack Downs On Motorized Scooters
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( concerns, laws & news ) "Motorized Scooters are NOT bicycles",

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