Dixon bans hoverboards from downtown business district

DIXON, Ill. (AP) - The city of Dixon in northern Illinois has banned the popular two-wheeled scooters known as hoverboards from its downtown business district.

The City Council voted 3-1 Tuesday to approve an ordinance banning hoverboards effective immediately. Fines for violations range from $100 to $750.

Hoverboards were a hot holiday gift. But major airlines, rail agencies and college campuses around the country have since announced bans, mainly over the potential fire danger from the lithium-ion batteries that power the devices.

Councilman Mitch Tucker tells The (Dixon) Telegraph (http://bit.ly/1SxBnre ) he was concerned about collisions with pedestrians.

Mayor Li Arellano Jr. cast the dissenting vote. He says he would have liked to have seen some discussion of how Dixon could embrace innovation and incorporate new ideas like hoverboards into the city.

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Information from: Dixon Telegraph, http://www.saukvalley.com