Chapter 10.16
MOTORIZED FOOT SCOOTERS
Sections:
10.16.030 Duty to obey traffic-control devices and rules of the road.
10.16.040 Unsafe use prohibited.
10.16.060 Requirements for operating motorized foot scooters.
10.16.010 Purpose.
A. Whereas, Section 46.61.710 of the Revised Code of Washington authorizes the use of motorized foot scooters upon the highways of the state without restrictions as to age, equipment, or abiding by rules of the road, but has also allowed for local jurisdictions to limit or otherwise regulate the use of such vehicles;
B. Whereas, the town council of the town of Mattawa desires to regulate the use of motorized foot scooters to enhance the health, safety and welfare of its citizens and visitors;
C. Whereas, the town council of the town of Mattawa finds that providing rules as to the proper operation of motorized foot scooters would increase the health, safety and welfare of its citizens and visitors; and
D. Whereas, the town council of the town of Mattawa finds that providing minimum requirements as to motorized foot scooter lighting and other equipment would increase the health, safety and welfare of its citizens and visitors.
(Ord. 433 §1, 2004).
10.16.020 Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
“Helmet” means a protective covering for the head consisting of a hard outer shell, padding adjacent to and inside the outer shell, and a neck or chin strap type retention system, with a label as required by the Federal Consumer Products Safety Commission and as adopted by the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) at 16 C.F.R. 1203.
“Motorized foot scooter” means a device with no more than two ten-inch or smaller diameter wheels that has handlebars, is designed to be stood upon but may have a seat, and is powered by an internal combustion engine or electric motor that is capable of propelling the device with or without human propulsion. A motor-driven cycle, a moped, an electric-assisted bicycle, or a motorcycle is not a motorized foot scooter.
“To operate in a negligent manner” means the operation of a motorized foot scooter in such a manner as to endanger or be likely to endanger any person or property. Examples of operating in a negligent manner include, but are not limited to, failure to obey all traffic control devices, and failure to yield-of-way to pedestrians and/or vehicular traffic.
(Ord. 433 §2, 2004).
10.16.030 Duty to obey traffic-control devices and rules of the road.
Any person operating a motorized foot scooter shall obey all rules of the road applicable to vehicle or pedestrian traffic, as well as the instructions of official traffic-control signals, signs and other control devices applicable to vehicles, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
(Ord. 433 §3, 2004).
10.16.040 Unsafe use prohibited.
No motorized foot scooter shall be operated in a negligent manner. All motorized foot scooters shall be operated with reasonable regard for the safety of the operator and other persons.
(Ord. 433 §4, 2004).
10.16.050 Prohibited areas.
It is unlawful for any person to operate any motorized foot scooter upon any sidewalk, pathway, town park, publicly-owned parking lot, privately-owned parking lot without the permission of the owner, or upon streets with a maximum speed limit above twenty-five miles per hour.
(Ord. 433 §5, 2004).
10.16.060 Requirements for operating motorized foot scooters.
No person shall operate a motorized foot scooter within the town corporate limits unless the following requirements are met. The parent of any child and the guardian of any ward shall not authorize or knowingly permit any such child or ward to violate any of the provisions of this chapter:
A. Minimum Age. No motorized foot scooter shall be operated on any street or other public area not otherwise prohibited by this chapter unless the operator is at least fourteen years of age.
B. Helmet Required. Any person operating a motorized foot scooter upon any public area in the town of Mattawa shall wear an approved helmet.
C. Passengers. No person shall transport or tow another person on, in or with a motorized foot scooter upon any public area within the town of Mattawa.
D. Lighting Required. Every motorized foot scooter operated between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before dawn shall be equipped with a lamp on the front, which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet to the front.
E. Reflector Required. Every motorized foot scooter operated between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before dawn shall be equipped with a red reflector on the rear of the scooter in the manner and of a type approved by the Washington State Patrol. Said reflector shall be visible from all distances up to six hundred feet to the rear.
F. Every motorized foot scooter shall be equipped with a brake that will enable the operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level, clean pavement.
G. Every gas motorized foot scooter shall at all times be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise. The use of a cutout, bypass, or similar muffler elimination device, is prohibited on any gas motorized foot scooter.
(Ord. 433 § 6, 2004).
10.16.070 Violation—Penalty.
Violations of this chapter are a civil infraction with a maximum penalty of fifty dollars plus statutory assessments.
(Ord. 433 § 7, 2004).