O'Fallon police seek stricter rules for high‑powered mini‑bikes and other motorized play vehicles

Lt. Jeff Cook of the O'Fallon Police Department told the Public Works Advisory Committee that officers drafted ordinance language after a yearlong surge in calls related to motorized play vehicles and an uptick in serious crashes.

"We had 262 calls for service in regards to juvenile issues," Cook said, adding that about 8% of those calls involved accidents and that recent incidents had resulted in injured riders transported from crash scenes.

The draft ordinance would add a new definition of "motorized play vehicle" to city code that, as Cook read it, covers "devices commonly referred to as mini motorcycles, pocket bikes, motorized scooters, electric skateboards including one wheels, go carts, and any other vehicle that is capable of transporting a person at an excess of 5 miles per hour that is self‑propelled by a motor or engine and is not otherwise defined in Missouri Revised Statute or Municipal Code as a motor vehicle, motor bicycle, bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle." Cook said the definition excludes mobility devices used by people with disabilities.

Cook and Officer Nicole Savant explained the operational effect of the definition: the draft would prohibit motorized play vehicles on city streets, roadways, sidewalks and in city parks. Cook noted the city must first reconcile an existing code provision that allows bicycles on sidewalks if the council chooses to extend sidewalk prohibitions to these devices.

The presentation included technical guidance the city attorney provided on how to distinguish high‑powered electric machines from legal e‑bikes. "Mr. O'Keefe, our city attorney, about is the number 2,237," Cook said, describing 2,237 watts as the electric equivalent the attorney used for the 49 cc benchmark used in older combustion‑engine rules. Officers said many commercial devices are labeled with wattage and that officers stopped at least one machine they estimated at approximately 5,000 watts and capable of more than 55 miles per hour.

The draft also addresses enforcement and penalties: officers could issue traffic summonses to people 15½ years and older for violations; younger riders would be referred to juvenile court procedures. The ordinance includes a parental responsibility provision that would allow fines up to $500 for a parent who "fails to exercise effective control over a minor, resulting in multiple violations," and authorizes towing of seized devices to the owner’s residence or an off‑site tow yard at the owner’s expense.

In question‑and‑answer exchanges, officers said motorized scooters were already illegal to operate on sidewalks, streets and in parks under existing code; golf carts are allowed only on multi‑use paths wider than 6 feet and are not required to display license plates but should be insured and operated by someone at least 16; gas‑powered pocket bikes or small motorcycles that lack plates and required equipment would be treated as illegal motorcycles and subject to motorcycle statutes.

Officer Savant urged residents to report troublesome activity via the police non‑emergency number (636‑240‑3200) and to request extra patrols when groups repeatedly operate these machines in neighborhoods.

The committee did not take a formal vote on the ordinance at the meeting; Lt. Cook and Officer Savant concluded by answering members' questions about enforcement and device classifications.

The committee's next steps, including whether to forward the draft to the City Council for consideration, were not decided at the meeting.