Westchester County PD Cracks Down On Mopeds, Scooters On Pathways

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — Westchester County public safety officials are sending a message about the rules of the road for motorized or battery-powered vehicles. The first rule is that county bike paths and pathways aren't roads.

Westchester County police impounded 16 mopeds and powered scooters. Police also wrote 54 tickets this week in a crackdown on the prohibited use of motorized or battery-powered vehicles, including on county bike paths and trailways.

Motorized and battery-powered vehicles are prohibited from operating on these paved recreational paths, which are limited to use by bicyclists, joggers and walkers. It is also illegal to use one on a sidewalk.

During the enforcement action on Wednesday, officers were deployed on the South County Trailway and Bronx River Pathway, as well as at locations on adjacent streets where the pathways can be accessed, according to police officials.

The scooters and mopeds were impounded when operators were found to be operating without the required license, registration or insurance. Summonses were issued for these violations and other traffic violations.

"The use of unregistered and uninsured scooters and mopeds, driven by unlicensed or improperly licensed operators, poses unacceptable safety and quality-of-life issues – especially on sidewalks and bike paths," Commissioner Terrance Raynor said.

In coordination with the Westchester County Police Department initiative, several other agencies conducted similar enforcement actions. These law enforcement agencies included the Yonkers Police Department, New York State Police, the Bronxville Police Department and the NYPD in the Bronx.

Raynor thanked these agencies for their collaboration in addressing a shared public safety concern. Combined, those agencies reported impounding 25 mopeds and scooters and issuing about 150 summonses.

The public safety officials said that scooters and mopeds are regulated differently than bicycles.

The powered conveyances are designated legally as "limited use motorcycles and come with key legal restrictions.

• All limited-use motorcycles require valid registrations.
• Operators must have proper licenses to operate on public roadways.
• Mopeds and scooters are not permitted to operate on any sidewalks or bike paths.

The only type of limited-use motorcycle permitted to operate on a parkway or in any lane of travel on a local street is a Class A limited use motorcycle (meaning it has a performance speed of at least 30 mph but not more than 40 mph). The operator of a Class A limited use motorcycle is required to have a motorcycle license, a valid registration and inspection, and insurance.

Class B and C limited use motorcycles are not permitted to operate on parkways. Drivers do not need a motorcycle license specifically but must have a valid driver’s license of any class. Class B vehicles (max performance speed of 30 mph) and Class C vehicles (max speed performance of 20 mph) may legally operate on local streets in the right lane of travel only or on the shoulder.