Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Tinley Park resident urges stronger enforcement of e-scooter age rules and safer crossing at Park District exit
Summary
Resident William Magnuson told trustees he fears underage electric scooters traveling at high speed near 171st and 82nd and urged the village to publicize the new Illinois age restriction and consider an engineered crossing; trustees and chiefs said state statute governs enforcement and officers are instructed to cite offenders.
William Magnuson, a long-time resident, told the Committee of the Whole he came to urge enforcement and a safety fix at a Park District exit near 171st and 82nd. "My name is William Magnuson. I've been a resident for Tinley for 46 years," he said, describing an encounter in which a child on a motorized scooter cut in front of his car.
Magnuson said he investigated state law and believed Illinois now requires riders to be 16, and that he is concerned children are riding at speeds he described as "20, 25 miles an hour" without helmets. "If I'm 13 and I'm going 20, 25 miles an hour on a scooter, 1, it's illegal," he said.
Trustees and staff responded that state statutes address e-bikes and scooters and stressed enforcement is the primary tool. Trustee Ken Shaw told Magnuson that state law and recent communications direct enforcement: "There are state statutes that are out there, and it’s all about enforcement." The village’s public-safety staff said officers have been instructed to issue citations when appropriate and may take custody of the vehicle depending on circumstances.
Officials encouraged residents to document occurrences with a phone call so the department has a record of incidents; staff also pointed to village social channels and a posted outreach effort the marketing department had run about e-bike and scooter rules.
Magnuson also asked the committee to consider an engineered, push-button crossing at 171st and 82nd near the Park District exit to increase safety for children accessing the pool and fields. Trustees did not commit to a specific engineering study tonight but acknowledged the location as a safety concern and encouraged the resident to continue documenting incidents.
