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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Thursday, August 5, 2004 Motorized scooter law considered By Yoshiaki Nohara / Herald Writer SNOHOMISH - The City Council wants to crack down on motorized scooters. The Snohomish Police Department receives about one complaint a day about the noise and dangerous operations of scooters, City Manager Larry Bauman told the council Tuesday before it discussed whether to create a new ordinance for scooters. Of the seven council members, four - Mayor Liz Loomis, Melody Clemans, Chris Lundvall and Lya Badgley - said they would like to see regulations for scooters, which are popular with youths. To pass a law requires four votes from the council. The council discussed several provisions that would likely be included: * Motorized scooters must have mufflers to reduce noise. * The riders can't operate them at night. * They must stay on streets and off sidewalks, trails and walkways. * Scooter users would have to be at least 16 years old and have a driver's license. If they don't have a license, parents must supervise them within sight. * They must obey traffic rules. In general, the proposal would treat gas-powered and electric scooters as motorcycles, Lundvall said. "I don't see anything out of hand, unreasonable about these regulations." Lundvall questioned how to enforce the law on those under 16. One solution would be to hold their parents accountable, council members said. If scooter noise is an issue, the city already has a noise ordinance and doesn't need a new one for scooters, Councilman Doug Thorndike said, explaining why he voted against the regulations. City staff will likely draft an ordinance for the council in August or September, Loomis said. Also, the council decided 4-3 to extend the moratorium for another six months on freestanding signs and digital and electronic signs taller than 20 feet. The extension would allow the citizens sign committee time to make recommendations. Council members who voted against the extension were Thorndike, Cameron Bailey and Larry Countryman.

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