AzMotorNews

By Christine L. Romero
The Arizona Republic, 3-2-05

GOODYEAR - Goodyear's putting the brakes on motorized scooters.

Following the lead of other Valley cities, the Goodyear City Council passed a measure Monday that restricts motorized skateboards, also known as electric scooters, to daylight hours and bans their use by children younger than 14. Several Arizona cities ban such devices outright, including Phoenix, El Mirage and Tucson. Glendale also restricts the scooters and Scottsdale is considering regulations.

Goodyear's new rule mandates protective helmets, eyewear and shoes for all. It requires notarized parental-permission forms for children 14 to 18 years old. The city rule essentially only allows motorized scooters on public roads with a speed limit of 25 mph or less.

The rule forbids their use on sidewalks, in crosswalks or in city parking structures.

Police will give written warnings until the rule fully activates in a month. A first offense can result in a fine of $50 to $300.

City officials say they haven't yet had many injuries, but they hope the crackdown will prevent accidents and keep down noise.

Goodyear resident Jenifer De La Garza supports the new regulations because she's troubled by the noisy scooters.

"When they go zipping, it's so noisy," De La Garza said. "They go back and forth (on the street) like it's their own personal raceway."

But it's more than just noise troubling her. De La Garza worries that children will be hurt in traffic.

"I just want them banned," she said of scooters. "That's the only way to solve it."