A few years ago, they were rarely seen. Now, those motorized scooters, also known as mopeds, are being seen more and more on neighborhood streets, bringing a rash of complaints to the police.
Some of those complaints range from being operated irresponsibly by children, drivers running stop signs, riding on sidewalks and lawns, racing in groups at high speed and getting too close to cars.
A moped is defined as a bicycle-like device with a helper motor in back or a motorcycle with smaller than a 50 cc engine.
One Virginia code that governs the use of mopeds seems to be broken all the time in Mount Vernon neighborhoods. No one under 16 can legally drive one.
Another code violation is the lack of use of protective gear, such as helmets.
Additional baggage or people on a moped is also restricted, unless an adult is driving and a child less than six years old is securely attached to the seat or in a trailer designed for carrying children.
According to Virginia codes and the county police, violations of the road using mopeds inappropriately, can result in fines to the drivers.
People in several area neighborhoods have reported seeing many of the codes broken, particularly the one that states that a moped should not be driven by any person under the age of 16 and that only one rider should be operating the vehicle.
Greg Kottemann, Crime Prevention Officer, Fairfax County Police Department, said that he didn't think that there were more mopeds on the streets generally, but that certain neighborhoods might be seeing more of them. He said that riders breaking the rules would not be arrested, but that they could be ticketed. He suggested that if anybody sees something that they are concerned about, they should contact the police at 703-691-2131.
PFC Richard Cook, who is on temporary assignment with the crime prevention unit, agrees that people should call that number. He said that he himself has not issued a ticket to a juvenile rider, but was on patrol when he saw a fellow officer was issuing a ticket for a minor riding a moped. He said that the officers escorted the juvenile back to his parent's house and issued a ticket. Parents are usually served a subpoena to appear in court with the child as well.
ONE NEIGHBOR, who preferred to remain anonymous, said, "What we have here, plain and simple, is a mix of large and small vehicles on the same roadway. One weighs in the tons; the other probably can be measured in the tens of pounds to a hundred, or so. The latter is "driven" by young people with ill-developed judgment, no training, little or no protection, no comprehension of driving laws and, apparently, a belief that they have the right-a-way and everybody else will have to watch out for them."
The neighbor added, "I almost ran one young man over last year when two riders on motorized scooters shot through the stop sign at Waynewood and Conover without stopping. I missed the youngster by inches. I think I can pretty well predict the outcome of any collision between one of these scooters or small motorbikes, and it won't be pretty. Basically, they're an accident waiting to happen. Not if, but when."