Florida laws apply to scooters, aren’t being enforced

Regarding the article “Critical injury reignites rental scooter debate” (Dec. 6): The state of Florida has determined that the Florida statutes relating to bicycles and their operation also apply to the recent influx of motorized scooters buzzing around town. The following statutes seem to be the ones most being abused.

Section 316.xxx F.S.

1. Riding with the flow of traffic. (Seems all directions are the norm)

2. Must be equipped with a brake which allows the rider to stop within 25 feet from a speed of 10 miles per hour. (The scooter may be able to stop in this distance but the rider will not.)

3. Must have a white light visible from 500 feet to the front and both a red reflector and a lamp visible from 600 feet to the rear. (Those that have working lights do not meet that requirement.)

4. Riders under age 16 must wear an approved helmet. (Lots of kids but no helmets seen.)

5. A rider must not wear a headset, headphones or other listening devices. (This seems to be occasional and related to rider stupidity.)

6. A bicycle may not be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed. (Another case of rider stupidity.)

The statutes further state that local governments can adopt ordinances regulating riders. However, it is apparent that theses regulations are not even being enforced for bicycles let alone scooters.

The main duty of government is for the protection and well being of its citizens, so what are we paying taxes for? I think many of the local law firms are hiring extra litigators to handle the surge of personal injury suits on the horizon.

Dane R. Hancock,

Fort Lauderdale

AP Assault weapons have little effect on national murder rate; laws not being enforced on scooters, readers write.