Chief: deer monitoring, e‑bike rules and near‑full police staffing among top priorities
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Summary
The police chief told the council the Division of Wildlife will set deer traps and GPS collars to study chronic wasting disease, described draft state amendments tightening e‑bike and e‑motorcycle rules and age limits, and said two hire candidates could bring the force to full strength.
Hyde Park — At the Jan. 28 council meeting the police chief reported several public‑safety items the department is pursuing, including wildlife monitoring, legislative changes affecting e‑bikes and progress on hiring.
On wildlife, the chief said the Division of Wildlife plans to set a deer trap in the city, place GPS collars and collect samples to assess chronic wasting disease and migration patterns; the chief said information from the effort will inform harvest plans.
On electric bicycles and electric motorcycles, the chief said state legislators have drafted amendments that clarify definitions for class 1, 2 and 3 bicycles, set minimum ages and tighten operating rules. The chief summarized draft provisions: class‑3 bikes would be off‑limits on highways for riders under a specified age and younger riders would need direct parental supervision in certain locations; draft language would also subject e‑bikes to impound and align e‑motorcycle requirements with existing motorcycle codes, including training or endorsements for riders under 21.
"They're also saying that anybody 14 may not operate an electric assisted bicycle on public property, highway path, or sidewalk unless he's under the supervision of his parent," the chief said. He added that the state will allow cities to add or subtract restrictions locally.
Staffing: the chief said the department interviewed two candidates and that hires pending background checks would bring the agency to full staff for the first time in some period.
Next steps: the chief said he will follow the legislative process on e‑bike/e‑motorcycle changes and coordinate with the state and neighboring jurisdictions on enforcement; the Division of Wildlife study will proceed with coordination on setting traps and device deployment.