The Los Angeles City Council called on its police and transportation agencies Tuesday to develop a list of possible fines the city should impose for infractions by riders of e-scooters or dockless bicycles.
The council directed the Los Angeles Police Department and the Department of Transportation to examine the number of reports the city receives related to the devices, and to create a scale of fines for violators. The agencies were also asked to identify areas that are overpopulated with bikes and scooters, and to create a public education campaign about the city's enforcement plans.
Councilman Gilbert Cedillo, who previously filed a motion hoping to have the devices banned from his downtown-area district during a one-year city pilot program regulating the devices, again expressed concern about their use.
"I would hope that we study it before we implement it,'' Cedillo said, adding that e-scooters and dockless bicycles are in a lawless, "wild, wild West'' state of affairs in his Council District 1.
"One day, these scooters just showed up in my district and disrupted my district," Cedillo said. "There's no rules and regulations, and the senior (citizens) are very concerned about this. We have incredible density on some of the most dangerous streets (to walk and bike).''
Councilman Mike Bonin, who chairs the Transportation Committee, defended the pilot program, which he said will give the city a measure of control over the use of the devices and include enforcement against violators.
Councilman David Ryu echoed that sentiment, saying, "This is an effort for us to try to prevent the 'wild, wild West' from happening.''
"The bikes and e-scooters are coming at us full steam,'' Ryu said. "... This (proposal) is one of those puzzle pieces to make sure (enforcement) happens.''
According to a report from the Los Angeles Fire Department, between Jan. 15 and May 25, there were a total of 80 reported incidents involving e-scooters, with 37 people requiring a trip to a hospital.
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Once the city departments develop the proposed list of fines, the issue will return to the council for a final vote.
