NEW JERSEY (PIX11) – Lawmakers in Paterson, N.J., are demanding stricter regulations on e-bikes and scooters.
New Jersey law prohibits riding a motorized scooter on public streets, highways, or sidewalks. However, local officials in Paterson say police officers are not allowed to enforce these rules.
The only one who can change this is the State Attorney General.
On a Friday evening in Paterson, Market Street downtown is chaotic, with people recklessly riding bikes, motorcycles, and scooters.
Andy Reyes, a taxi driver, said this is the norm. “Problems and accidents, the motorcycles everyday accidents,” he said.
And what’s the biggest problem officials in Paterson say?
“The problem we have is the the Attorney General guidelines prohibits the Paterson police to chase, detain, and go for it and try to recover them, and that is a wrong decision,” stated councilmember Luis Velez.
The city is calling on the State Attorney General to give Paterson police the power to go after those riding these electric and gas vehicles illegally.