Mini motorcycles starting to spell big trouble

Pocket bikes might be all the rage, but Sacramento lawmakers weren’t convinced of their charm when they decided last year to make riding the miniature motorcycles on roads illegal.

Starting this year, a California Assembly bill takes the air out of of these popular toys by prohibiting their use on public roadways.

Assembly Bill 1051, which was written by Assemblyman John J. Benoit (R-Palm Desert), prohibits pocket bikes from being operated on public highways and roadway—and in parking lots—and requires retailers to place a sticker on the small bikes stating the ban. The bill passed the Assembly on a 70-0 vote.

“Current law does not adequately address the operation of pocket bikes on public highways and sidewalks,” Benoit said. “Law enforcement officers are using other statutes, such as equipment and registration violations, which do not specifically and directly prohibit the operation of these vehicles but apply because any vehicle operated on a public highway must meet certain equipment and registration requirements.”

Miniature motorcycles were never considered street legal in the first place because they don’t have a 14-digit vehicle identification number and they fail to meet qualifications set by the California Vehicle Code.

“It has always been illegal to ride these bikes in the street, but this new law helps to clarify the issue,” said Sgt. Phil Brooks of the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station traffic division.

Pocket bikes, which are typically one-fourth the size of a traditional motorcycle and can reach speeds of 60 mph, are popular with both youth and adults because they are inexpensive and easy to transport. A basic entry model produced in China costs less than $200.

Pocket bikes first became popular in Japan and Europe where racing clubs introduced them as a cheap way for young racers to train for racing events. They also gained popularity with adults who enjoyed motorcycle racing, but were detered by the high cost and danger of operating a full-sized motorcycle.

A check with one local retailer found that pocket bike distributors failed to properly inform prospective buyers about the laws regarding operation.

Boxes containing MiniMoto and Razor brand racers carried advisories that warned users not to ride the bikes in traffic, but failed to notify consumers about the new California law making roadway use illegal. The warnings were not easily to see and were often hidden by display cases.

One employee at the Thousand Oaks Pep Boys said it was legal to ride the pocket bikes on streets and sidewalks as long as they weren’t taken onto major thoroughfares.

But according to Brooks, “People who use these bikes in any street will be given a citation for operating a non-standard street vehicle and will have the vehicle impounded.” “Adults will also have to attend juvenile traffic school with their children if a minor is caught using one,” Brooks said.