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Chief: storm week drove a spike in priority calls; state bill would restrict under‑16 electric motorcycle use
Summary
Hyde Park’s police chief reported an increase in call volume after a snowstorm (117 calls that week across jurisdictions, 18 in Hyde Park with 13 priority calls), fewer traffic stops and an education‑first approach to enforcement; he also summarized a state bill under debate restricting electric motorcycles for under‑16s and allowing hold/impound authority.
Hyde Park’s police chief told the Feb. 25 council meeting that a recent snowstorm produced an unusual workload spike: the department handled 117 calls countywide that week, with 18 inside Hyde Park—13 of them priority calls, including accidents, a drug investigation, a child‑abuse inquiry and an unattended death.
The chief said traffic‑stop numbers dropped during the busy period (90 stops that week: 22 citations and 68 warnings) and described a philosophy of using stops to educate rather than simply to punish. "We're trying to educate more than what we're trying to be heavy handed on that," he said.
On state legislation, the chief reported a bill in the Senate third reading that would make it illegal for under‑16s to operate electric motorcycles on roads, parks or sidewalks and would allow law enforcement to hold a vehicle and release it only to a parent or impound it. He said the League of Cities and Towns is supportive and that the city would likely need an education campaign if the law passes.
The chief also announced active‑shooter training and other safety presentations that staff are delivering to local schools and groups.
