Baltimore is cracking down on illegal scooters, and the Baltimore Police Department, with the help of their colleagues at Maryland Transit Administration Police, means business—42 traffic citations testify to the mid-September blitz that saw 25 scooters towed for lacking the essentials: proper registration, licenses, and insurance, as reported by the Baltimore Police Department.
Officers had been warning scooter riders and sharing educational materials about traffic laws. Riders had been seen speeding through traffic, using bus lanes and sidewalks, and parking anywhere. However, a recent increase in incidents, like robberies and carjackings involving scooters, led the Baltimore Police Department to take stricter action. This took shape as a traffic safety measure and a move tied to fighting crime. "It is concerning to see scooters maneuvering recklessly in traffic, operating without proper registration and equipment, and being involved in criminal activities as both victims and suspects," Commissioner Richard Worley expressed in a statement reported by the Baltimore Police Department.
So far, the stricter approach has led to two arrests related to scooter incidents, and the Baltimore Police Department is investigating more cases. They are also addressing issues with unregistered minibikes, mopeds, and all-terrain vehicles that pose risks to community safety. According to the BPD, they are committed to patrolling problem areas, issuing warnings, and giving citations to those who don’t comply.
