Legal Changes To Slam Brakes On Illegal Bikes
The city is stepping up its efforts to keep motorized scooters off streets and sidewalks through a pair of bills signed into law by Mayor Michael Bloomberg last Wednesday, May 15, which empower law enforcement personnel to punish those who sell or use the illegal vehicles.
One of the bills approved by the mayor is Intro. No. 1030, which bars businesses from using motorized scooters in any way to conduct deliveries and other businesses.
Under provisions of the law, businesses which use bicycles “for commercial purposes” may not be permitted to possess motorized scooters in the same manner. Additionally, these establishments would also be prohibited from allowing their employees to use their own scooters for business purposes.
“Business owners will now be held accountable for employees who violate the law by operating motorized scooters to make deliveries,” Bloomberg said last Wednesday.
Intro. No. 1030 was overwhelmingly approved 48-1 by the City Council during a vote taken on Apr. 25. Among the local sponsors of the legislation were City Council Members James Gennaro, Eric Ulrich and Jimmy Van Bramer.
Mayor Bloomberg also signed last Wednesday Intro. No. 1026-A, which changes the legal definition of a motorized scooter. Since such a ve- hicle was previously defined based on its maximum speed, the mayor noted, it made it “virtually impossible” for law enforcement agents “to determine whether a vehicle actually came within the scope of the law.”
“Although it is already illegal to operate these vehicles under state law since they are unregistered and uninsured motor vehicles, the passage of this legislation ensures that the strict penalties available under local law can be imposed, and that law enforcement has more options to protect NewYorkers from the dangers of illegal motorized scooters on our streets,” Bloomberg added.
As noted in the bill, the definition of a motorized scooter does not include wheelchairs or other mobility devices used by disabled persons, Segways or other electric-powered devices which are not capable of exceeding 15 mph.
The legislation also grants law enforcement agents the authority to impound any motorized scooter found to be used in violation of the law. The vehicles will not be released until the owners until all necessary charges, fees and penalties have been paid.
The bill was also passed by the City Council on Apr. 25, with 49 of the 51 members voting in favor. The local sponsors of the legislation included
Council Members Gennaro, Ulrich and Van Bramer as well as City Council Members Leroy Comrie and Peter Koo.
In speaking with the Times Newsweekly on Monday, May 20, Robert Holden-president of the Juniper Park Civic Association-applauded the mayor and City Council for approving the bills, noting that motorized scooters have proven to be a danger to pedestrians and drivers alike in Maspeth, Middle Village and other communities across the city.
“I’m glad to see they’re doing this. It was a huge problem. We had a few deliverymen in the neighborhood who were killed” in accidents involving other vehicles after darting in and out of traffic, Holden said. He noted that many of the riders are “just doing as they please with no regulations.”
“These are accidents waiting to happen,” he added. “I’m glad to see the City Council is doing something useful about it.”
Both laws are scheduled to take effect 180 days after being signed by the mayor (on or about Nov. 11), but as noted in the bill’s text, the Parks, Transportation and Police commissioners have the authority to “take all actions necessary” to allow for the laws to be implemented ahead of the effective date.
