Bird Scooters were brought to Big Rapids one year ago, now city officials are considering the possibility of regulating them.

 

Earlier this week during the Big Rapids Commission meeting, City Attorney Eric Williams presented commissioners with a draft ordinance and wanted feedback from commissioners, the public and those involved in the scooter business.

 

One of the complaints was seeing minors riding the scooters around town.

 

Mayor Fred Guenther questioned Williams who would be responsible if a minor was using a scooter with their parent's ID.

 

"Police could stop a 12 or 13 year old and say hey you're not supposed to be riding the scooter. I don’t think we will be writing tickets to 12 and 13 year olds but a parent who set it up beforehand could be issued a civil infraction ticket. Williams said. “But my guess is we would admonish the parents that's not the way to do business and it’s not safe. Then if there's repeat issues sure we will take whatever enforcement action we can take. All the violations under the draft ordinance section would be municipal civil infractions not misdemeanors so we won't be taking anybody to jail for inappropriate scooter use.”

 

Once Williams and other city officials collect enough feedback, they will go back and draft a revised ordinance and present it to the city commission to take action on.