West Haven Takes Aim At ‘Reckless And Dangerous’ Bicycle Operators

WEST HAVEN, CT — The City Council has approved an ordinance that police say aims to curb “reckless and dangerous operation” of bicycles in West Haven.

Police said in a post on Facebook Thursday morning that the City Council has constructed and passed a city ordinance amending Chapter 80, of The City Ordinance to add the following pertaining to bicycles under section 80-8, which now states:

No person shall operate a bicycle without due regard for the safety and rights of pedestrians and drivers and occupants of other vehicles as to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person while in the lawful use of streets or sidewalks or any public or private property without exercising reasonable and ordinary control over such bicycle by trick riding, or weaving, or zigzag course unless such irregular course is necessary for safe operation in compliance with the law.

Whenever any minor under the age of 18, years of age operates a bicycle or motorized bicycle in violation of the following City Ordinance Codes, the bicycle may be seized by any member of The West Haven Police Department and impounded. A bicycle or motorized bicycle so impounded shall be surrendered to the owner, or if the owner is a minor, to the parents or guardians of such minor. A full explanation of the reason for the impounding shall be made to the owner. A complete record of each such impounding shall be kept in the office of the chief of police.

There shall be a storage charge of twenty five dollars $25.00 per day for each impounded bicycle or motorized bicycle. The impounded bicycle shall not be released until the storage charge is paid. If the bicycle is not claimed within 30 days of it being impounded the bicycle shall be considered abandoned and shall be deemed the property of the City of West Haven. The penalty for whoever violates these provisions shall be charged an administrative fee of one hundred dollars $100.00.

The entire section regarding bicycle operation and laws can be found along with this new amended section in Section 80 under the City Ordinance Code for the City of West Haven.

“School Resource Police Officers will be explaining this revision to students in hopes of curbing reckless and dangerous operation,” police said.