NEW JERSEY (PIX11) – Lawmakers in Paterson, N.J., are demanding stricter regulations on e-bikes and scooters.
New Jersey law prohibits riding a motorized scooter on public streets, highways, or sidewalks. However, local officials in Paterson say police officers are not allowed to enforce these rules.
The only one who can change this is the State Attorney General.
On a Friday evening in Paterson, Market Street downtown is chaotic, with people recklessly riding bikes, motorcycles, and scooters.
Andy Reyes, a taxi driver, said this is the norm. “Problems and accidents, the motorcycles everyday accidents,” he said.
And what’s the biggest problem officials in Paterson say?
“The problem we have is the the Attorney General guidelines prohibits the Paterson police to chase, detain, and go for it and try to recover them, and that is a wrong decision,” stated councilmember Luis Velez.
The city is calling on the State Attorney General to give Paterson police the power to go after those riding these electric and gas vehicles illegally.
“They are guidelines we have to obey by, so Paterson police essentially are handcuffed. They need to be changed, and we need to prevent future accidents, tragic accidents from taking place,” Said Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh.
Tragedies such as the one from this past Tuesday. Angelvl Javier Reynos and Brailin Dominguez were tossed to the ground After crashing their electric scooter into a Jeep Grand Cherokee that was leaving a parking lot on Madison Avenue.
Reynos, who was driving, died.
Dominguez was rushed to the hospital. He is expected to survive. Authorities say the driver of the jeep remained at the scene and that the scooter was unregistered.
“There should be better laws and certain rules to better protect the citizens with something illegal like that,” said Paterson resident Victor.
Councilmen Velez told PIX11 News that Paterson ordinances require E-bikes, mopeds, and scooters to be registered, and operators must be licensed. City gas stations are also required to check proof of registration before selling fuel.
As for Tuesday’s daily crash, no one was arrested, and the investigation remains ongoing.
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