Institute a pocket-bike ban

1 Comment | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jan 27, 2005 | by Deseret Morning News editorial

Sorry kids, there's no way to argue your way out of this one. For the sake of your young lives and your delicate noggins, the pocket bikes have to go.

Rep. Brad L. Dee, R-Ogden, wants them off public property, which would include streets, highways, paths and sidewalks. He has introduced HB159, which would also prohibit anyone under 8 years old from operating a minibike and prohibit drivers from taking any passengers on the bikes. The legislation also addresses "souping up" minimotorcycles, pocket bikes and motor scooters.

The statewide ban on pocket bikes on public property would expand bans imposed by cities and at least one county in recent months. The thinking behind the bans has been that low-profile vehicles are a growing hazard to riders and other motorists. They are difficult to see on roadways and most lack safety devices such as brakes on both tires, lights, horns or mirrors. Riders can travel up to 40 mph or faster with their feet about 6 inches from the road. There have been instances nationwide in which riders -- even those wearing helmets -- have been killed or seriously injured.

If history is a guide, there will be some people who decry a statewide ban as state government playing the role of nanny. Government can't save people from their bad choices, but if it can curb certain trouble in public places, it ought to, especially if the victims tend to be minors. A ban of pocket bikes on public property will limit their use to private property, where they become matters of private liability. If people elect to buy these bikes for their children, they do so at their own peril. The government, through this legislation, will have discouraged the use of these bikes as much as it possibly can. Some communities have gone so far as to ban the sales of pocket bikes, period.

Dee's bill doesn't go that far. But it would go a long way toward relieving riders and other drivers of the potential of horrific -- but preventable -- traffic accidents.

Copyright C 2005 Deseret News Publishing Co.
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.
 
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    redsunrising

    08/19/09 | Report as spam

    is for lost of money or safety

    i beleive that every one should have the right to choice not saying that the prohibidding of kids riding these bikes shoulding be reguolated but adults should have the choice wethere or not they wish to ride the bike or not risk or no risk every day this country becomes more and more like tirinical rule country so to banned the bike to both adults and kids thats just like over stepping thier place this is supposed to be a free country of free will but it becomes one of inforced will every day we need to stand up as adults and fights this this big mother and big father since thats some how coming into play if we all sign a petticion to get these laws forcibly ammended it would send in its own a message to our law makers that they work for us they don't own us we own them more so thats all we need stand up sonner a later they'll ban walking down the street becuase of all the accidents or potential accidents

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