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College Park officials press e-scooter enforcement, rollout of geofencing and reporting tools
Summary
City staff, contract police and University of Maryland police described enforcement of scooter and e-bike rules, steps to reduce abandoned shared scooters and an app-based reporting process; Veo agreed to geofencing and pickups within the city contract, officials said.
City staff, contract officers and University of Maryland police told a College Park public-safety meeting they are increasing enforcement of electric scooters and e-bikes, pursuing abandoned-share-device complaints and working with vendors on geofencing and pickup requirements.
The focus on micromobility matters because improperly parked or illegally operated devices create pedestrian hazards and contribute to neighborhood complaints, speakers said.
"We've been conducting enforcement for the scooters that's been running — going straight to the crosswalks, operating recklessly," Sergeant Wyndkoop said, adding officers have been conducting traffic stops, issuing citations when warranted and educating riders with warnings. The presenter said enforcement includes citations for reckless operation and efforts to keep scooters off bike trails and in bike lanes where appropriate.
University of Maryland Police Department representatives described campus-focused enforcement and outreach. "We have been staffing Knox and Baltimore Avenue on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights," Mike Ledbetter said, and noted the department participates in knock-and-talk outreach nights and distributes literature about new laws for operators.
City code and planning staff outlined the process for reporting abandoned share devices and the vendor obligations under the city's contract. Residents can report poorly parked or abandoned scooters through the College Park Connect app, staff said; the city forwards reports to the vendor, which must remove units within the contract time window. "We give the location to Veo ... they have two hours to come pick it up," a city code official said during the meeting.
City staff said the operator agreed to use geofencing technology to help locate and manage devices and that the city's memorandum of understanding includes financial penalties if the vendor does not remove abandoned devices promptly. "They can actually locate where their scooters are ... If they do not pick them up within a certain period, they would be charged for that," a city official said.
Officials cautioned that enforcement begins with education and warnings but can escalate to citations and Office of Student Conduct referrals for repeated campus violations. Contract officers reported issuing multiple warnings and citations for scooter violations during the reporting months.
Residents and council members urged clearer public communication about how to report devices and how the vendor app should require rider confirmation when a ride ends. Staff said reporting via the city app (College Park Connect) is available for anyone and that code and planning staff will continue coordinating with the vendor and university partners.
Officials concluded that improved geofencing, vendor responsiveness and continued enforcement are the primary tools available to reduce sidewalk obstructions and dangerous riding behavior.
