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St. Charles plans to adopt local rules for motorized bikes, scooters

St. Charles City Council members are considering proposed regulations regarding the use of motorized bicycles and scooters.

If adopted, the regulations would largely mirror state law, according to a city official. Police would have the ability to issue a local citation, rather than a state ticket.

The St. Charles Government Operations Committee unanimously recommended the regulations during a meeting Monday, Sept. 15. All members of the council are also members of the committee.

The city council is expected to vote on the proposal next month.

The proposed changes to the city’s vehicles and traffic law address low-speed electric bicycles; e-motos, which are electric motorcycles with power over 750 watts and capable of going over 20 mph without pedaling; low- and high-speed electric scooters; low-speed gasoline-powered bicycles; mopeds; motor-assisted bicycles that don’t have an electric motor; and motor-assisted scooters.

They cover where they can be ridden, the age of people to ride them, and whether users need a driver’s license and insurance for some of the vehicles.

Under the proposal, fines would start at $25 for a first offense and rise to as much as $250 for a fourth or subsequent offense. Persons facing a fourth charge would also have to appear at a city adjudication hearing, and could be sentenced to community service in lieu of or in addition to the fine.

Making the violations a city violation could prevent violators from ending up with a blemish on their driver’s license record, city officials said.

Economic Development Director Derek Conley, who presented the ordinance changes, said education will be emphasized.

Conley said the St. Charles Business Alliance, which usually picks a topic to focus on each year, is considering choosing bicycle safety for its next campaign. That may include handing out bicycle bells with logos, he said.

State law already requires bicycles to have bells. It also prohibits electric bicycles from being ridden on sidewalks.

Conley said the city may place stickers on sidewalks in the downtown overlay district to remind people that they are not allowed to ride bicycles, scooters and the like on sidewalks. People don’t seem to see the signs that are already there, he said.