Motorized Scooters An Issue In Darien: Official

DARIEN, IL — A Darien alderman said this week that he had received an "onslaught" of complaints about children riding motorized scooters and mopeds in his northwestern ward. When he asked his colleagues whether they had heard of problems, no one had.

At Monday's City Council meeting, Ward 6 Alderman Eric Gustafson said he had received reports of scooter riders in several parts of his ward. He said he didn't believe Darien had any regulations for such vehicles.

"They are supposedly exceeding the speed limits on the street. They are flying through stop signs and ignoring traffic rules," he said.

He said he has tried to see the riders for himself when residents call him, but he hasn't made it in time. He said the riders have been described as young as 8 or 9 years old and wearing no helmets. He estimated about 10 children were the problem.

Police Chief Greg Thomas said his department had received the same complaints. An officer, he said, spoke with a mother and that she said she wouldn't let her children ride the scooters on public streets. He asked Gustafson whether he had received any complaints in the last week.

Gustafson said he hadn't gotten any reports in the last three days.

"Maybe that did the trick," he said. "That's what it comes down to — the parents monitoring their kids on these vehicles because someone is going to get hurt."

Thomas said his department would continue to monitor the situation.