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Aldermen ask city attorney to review motorized play‑vehicle ordinance to cover electric devices
Summary
Aldermen raised safety concerns about children operating electric mini‑cars, scooters and pocket bikes on streets and sidewalks, noting the ordinance's current wording references 'gas powered' vehicles; the city attorney agreed to review and report back.
Alderman (Speaker 5) told the board the city's motorized-play‑vehicle ordinance currently references “gas powered” devices and may not cover modern battery‑powered mini bikes, pocket bikes and motorized scooters. Quoting the code language, he said the ordinance bans operation of “a gas powered motorized scooter, motorized play vehicle upon any street, highway, roadway, sidewalk within the city or within boundaries of any city park” and warned that enforcement could be unclear for electric devices.
“There’s a shiny blue go kart that just flies down the street and flies through the stop sign,” Alderman (Speaker 5) said, urging the city to change the language to address safety risks. Multiple aldermen said the issue is widespread across subdivisions and not isolated to one neighborhood.
Alderman (Speaker 6) pointed out the city already has separate regulations for motorized bicycles and golf carts and noted motorized bicycles can reach speeds up to 30 mph. He said go‑karts may be treated as motor vehicles depending on design and speed. The city attorney said he had not yet reviewed the ordinance but was happy to do so and suggested staff examine whether the vehicles fall under existing motorized‑bicycle, golf‑cart or motor‑vehicle categories.
The board directed the city attorney to review the ordinance language to clarify whether battery‑powered children's vehicles are covered and to return with recommended language or options for regulation. No formal change to the code was adopted during the work session.
