Minibike Christmas- Check Local Laws
This story is from the Northwest Evening Mail. It warns parents (read adults) about the likely reaction of local police to kids or other people riding minibikes around on the streets. At least around Cumbria, and in a lot of towns around the UK, US and probably Australia, there are laws limiting the size of motorized vehicle that can be ridden on public streets. In many instances the laws are local and characterize the tiny minibikes not as motorcycles, but as toys. In cases where they are viewed as motorcycles, it may not be legal for kids under 16 to ride them on the street. If they are 50cc or larger in the states, most jurisdictions will require a motorcycle endorsement and registration and tags to ride them on the street. And the cops aren't generally open to negotiation on this one. They will confiscate the things.
So before you go out and buy yourself or junior that mini motorcycle, or gas or electric scooter, for the holidays, check with local police on rules for sidewalk and street use. Make sure you know the engine displacement size if it's gas powered. Also see what the rules are on riding the things on private property like shopping mall parking lots. And if you get one, get the helmet and be really careful on the streets. While top speeds on some expensive models can exceed 50 mph, most top out around 30-35 which doesn't give you a lot of range in dodging cars. Most importantly, the things are very short and are really hard to see using car or SUV mirrors. And folks driving the tiny bikes are typically not religious about adhering to driving laws.
Have a safe holiday season. If kids are driving them, make sure they know how to ride safely in traffic.
Evening Mail article..
posted by Tony Wilkie @ 6:44 AM
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