Editorial: Publicize scooter laws

Monday, April 19, 2004 | 8:47 a.m.

There is hardly a neighborhood anymore that doesn't have children on motorized scooters zipping along the roads and sidewalks. Scooter sales have been brisk for months and demand remains high. They're a natural evolution from banana bikes and skateboards and suddenly they're everywhere. It may be the fault of the retailers, the government or parents, but for whatever reason they arrived way ahead of much public information on their proper use.

This is why we think it would be unfair to lodge criminal charges against the parents of two young girls who were seriously injured last week when the scooter they were riding collided with a pickup truck. Metro Police is considering the charges, because operators of these scooters need a license and the scooters are not permitted to be driven on streets or sidewalks. But who knows that? Judging by the number of kids who are operating them illegally, we have to believe not many parents do.

Obviously, the law needs to be followed. But first, let's acquaint people with the rules through public service announcements and through the retailers who sell them. Once this is done, and the rules are more widely known, charges would be appropriate.