North Olympic Peninsula cities are getting ready to counter the noise and nuisance from motorized foot scooters.
And one city is looking beyond the low-power scooters to regulate motorized mini-bikes nicknamed “pocket rockets” as well.
Police in Port Angeles will start issuing tickets in January to people who violate the city’s new motorized foot scooter ordinance.
The new city code, passed by the City Council last Monday, requires riders to be at least 16 years old and sets regulations for where, when and with what equipment people can use the scooters.
Similar regulations, including where scooters can be ridden and the requirement of helmets, are expected to be passed in Sequim tonight when the City Council meets at 7 p.m. at Guy Cole Convention Center in Carrie Blake Park.
In Port Townsend, City Attorney John Watts is drafting an ordinance that would not only crack down on powered foot scooters, it would regulate mini-bikes as well.
Numerous complaints
Local law enforcement officers have received numerous complaints about the wheeled devices, but until now have had little authority to control their use, Port Angeles Police Sgt. Ed Schilke said.
Port Angeles’ new ordinance goes into effect this Friday, and violators can face fines of up to $250.
But police will issue warnings, rather than tickets, until Jan. 1 in an effort to educate the public, said Schilke.
Beginning in 2005, first-time offenders will be fined $75, second-time offenders will be fined $150, and people who violate the ordinance three or more times must pay $250.
Fines in Sequim, as proposed, would likely be set at $50, to be cut in half if the rider pays within 24 hours.
