Mini motorcycles, pocket bikes, motor scooters — those small two-wheelers that have been another name for trouble in several Utah communities — have now caught the attention of legislators.

HB159 seeks to spread statewide the bans recently imposed by communities to prohibit the low-profile vehicles from public property, including streets, highways, paths and sidewalks.

"What they do on their private property up in the hills is fine with me, but they don't need to be on the roads," said Rep. Brad L. Dee, R-Ogden, the bill's sponsor.

The West Valley City Council voted unanimously last week to ban low-profile motorized vehicles, citing a "lack of safety features and reduced visibility," West Valley communications manager Aaron Crim said.

West Valley joins Sunset, Herriman, South Jordan, Layton, Centerville, and Kaysville. Tooele is considering a ban, and Salt Lake County is trying to put a stop to pocket bike use on city streets and sidewalks.

Some pocket bikes can reach speeds up to 40 mph, with the rider's feet hovering just 6 inches from the ground.

Dee said the reason for tighter legislation is young riders aren't being educated how to use the machines, resulting in accidents and mishaps occurring on public property.

"This bill is meant to create responsibility for those 8-, 9- and 10-year-old riders on the streets," Dee said. Existing law forbids these young riders from riding without parental supervision, a term Dee said is not well-defined.

HB159 seeks to specifically define "direct supervision" as maintained visual contact for the purpose of advising and assisting, and to amend certain requirements relating to the operation of motorized scooters and other personal mobility devices.

The bill would also prohibit anyone under 8 years old from operating a mini-bike and prohibit drivers from taking any passengers on the bikes. It also seeks to address mechanical alterations made to such devices.

Owners sometimes "soup up" the bikes, making them much faster than they were intended to be driven and much harder for drivers to handle.

Several manufacturers have recalled the bikes for "undisclosed" reasons. AutoZone locations throughout Utah were selling the bikes during a Christmas promotion but very few are still available.

A representative from AutoZone said safety information is included with the sale of each bike but it is up to the owner to enforce it. Laws for the operation of the vehicles are not distributed at the time of purchase.

The issue was brought to Dee by local law enforcement officials who said the the bikes are growing hazard to riders and to other vehicles on the road.

"They are a motorized vehicle and should be regulated as such and not just ridden at will," said Davis County chief deputy Kevin McLeod.

During the winter months, not as many reports are made for pocket bike incidents, but McLeod said they definitely represent a safety hazard and he would support legislation banning them on public property.

"They cannot be operated safely on roads," he said.

Down the legislative road, Dee hopes to see educational materials made available to the purchasers of these bikes, but right now, he's focusing primarily on keeping Utah's roads safe.

"Trouble is, no one wants to be responsible for these bikes," he said. "This legislation will change that."

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