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State DOT issues reminder about motorized scooters June 18, 2004 The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has issued a reminder that motorized scooters continue to be prohibited from use on public roads and sidewalks. Although a wide variety of motorized scooters have been offered for sale by various retail outlets statewide in recent months, WisDOT says the small gas or electric-powered scooters do not meet National Highway Traffic Safety Commission standards for motor vehicle safety. As a result, they cannot be registered, which means they cannot be operated on any street or sidewalk within a roadway’s right-of-way. “Federal law requires that all vehicles manufactured for use on highways and sold in this country meet federal safety equipment standards,” said Paul Nilsen of WisDOT’s Office of General Counsel. “Most motorized scooters do not meet those safety standards and are not designed for highway operation. So the law treats them just like lawn tractors, all-terrain vehicles, go-carts, mini-bikes, and other off-road vehicles.” Nilsen noted that anyone operating a small motorized scooter on a street or sidewalk without a driver’s license could face charges for operating a motor vehicle without a driver’s license. For juveniles, such a citation can result in their being ineligible for a driver’s license when they turn 16. Nilsen said the motorized scooters can be operated on private property where the owner has given consent. For more information, contact:
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