Vol. 1, No. 22
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Sept. 15, 2004
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CRIMINAL DEFENSE |
COPYWRITING
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A Few Surprises From Primary But Turnout A Dismal 28 Percent
Touch Screen Machines Behaved Admirably, Human Election Workers Created Problems
by Johnny Gunn
Although the total number of Nevadans taking part in the Primary Election on September 7 set a new high in numbers, the percentage of eligible voters was still dismally small. Less than 28 percent of registered voters bothered to turn out in what has been touted as the most important election cycle of the new century. It appears as though the thousands of new registerees and others eligible, only have the presidential election in mind.
One bright spot from the Primary was the introduction of touch screen voting systems with their accompanying paper trail. "Nevada made history as the first state in the nation to conduct an election using a voter-verified paper audit trail printer on a touch screen voting machine," hailed Nevada Secretary of State Dean Heller.
The only troubles of any sort during the Primary took place in Washoe County where poll workers created problems by offering wrong political party ballots to several voters, and then not returning cassettes from the voting machines to the elections office in a timely manner. In other words, the problems were human caused, not caused by the new voting system. Heller said, "The machines worked extremely well."
During the Primary, the chairman of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission was on hand as a guest of Secretary Heller. "I had the honor of hosting and providing a tour of various voting sites for Chairman DeForest Soaries."
| "Nevada made history as the first state in the nation to conduct an election using a voter-verified paper audit trail printer on a touch screen voting machine," hailed Nevada Secretary of State Dean Heller. |
Heller called it a great opportunity for Soaries to view firsthand the state-of-the-art voting system in action.
Statewide, 261,503 people turned out to cast their ballots, less than 28 percent of the total registration. In Washoe County, the numbers are very similar; 27.68 percent of registered voters cast ballots, a total of 58,502. The Clark County percentage was 25.07 percent reflecting 148,872 voters at the polls.
The election numbers are complete, but the election isn't considered official until various county commissions declare the vote such. Heller doesn't anticipate any significant changes in the numbers he has released. As we go to press, only one race is being disputed, and that not from numbers but rather campaign finance questions.
Assemblyman Chad Christensen, fined earlier this year over his campaign financing, dealing with making payments to himself from his election coffers, is again being questioned, this time in a complaint filed by his opponent for the District 13 seat in the Assembly.
Christensen won his Republican Primary by 81 percent. He will be facing Democrat Justin Jones and Libertarian Debra Payne-Dedmon in November. Jones has filed a complaint with the Secretary of State claiming Christensen is in violation of numerous election campaign rules.
Christensen was fined $4,500 for more than 50 violations earlier this year, mostly for paying himself money from his campaign war chest. Jones says he has done it again, loaning himself $3,500. Christensen says it was what he called an advance and it has been repaid.
•••
Here is a look at some of the winners and losers from Sept. 7
Senate & Congress
Richard Ziser (R) will face off with Harry Reid (D) in November. Ziser won his Primary, garnering slightly more than 33 percent of the vote.
In November's Congressional District Number 1 General Election, Incumbent Shelley Berkley (D) will face Russ Mickelson (R).
In Congressional District 2, Incumbent Jim Gibbons (R) will face David Jerome Bennett (D).
And in Congressional District 3, Incumbent Jon Porter (R) will face Tom Gallagher (D).
Nevada Senate
Some state senators had no Primary Election.
District 1, Democrat: John Lee, 43.35 percent.
District 4, Democrat: Steven Horsford, 48.49 percent.
District 5, Republican: Joe Heck upset Ann O'Connell, 51.35 percent to 46.55 percent.
District 6, Republican: In what might be considered a repercussion from the massive tax increase enacted by the last legislature, Bob Beers pulled 54.41 percent of the vote to oust Senator Ray Rawson, who garnered 42.38 percent.
District 7, Republican: Paul Fairfield, 68.63 percent.
Central Nevada District, Republican: Mike McGinness, 80.77 percent.
Nevada Assembly
District 1, Democrat: Marilyn K. Kirkpatrick, 46.45 percent.
District 3, Democrat: Peggy Pierce, 48.36 percent.
District 4, Republican: Francis Allen, 44.1 percent.
District 5, Democrat: Kirk Kaplan, 53.56 percent.
District 6, Democrat: Harvey J. Munford eliminated controversial Assemblyman Wendell Williams 55.85 percent to 41.76 percent.
District 7, Democrat: Morse Arberry, Jr., 64.43 percent.
District 9, Democrat: Chris Giunchigliani, 80.08 percent.
District 10, Democrat: Joseph M. Hogan, 68,22 percent.
District 11, Democrat: Just 28 votes separated these two. Bob McCleary eliminated Doug Bache, 51,15 percent to 48.85 percent.
District 13, Republican: Chad Christensen, 78.41 percent.
District 15, Republican: Bob Anderson, 69.28 percent.
District 17, Republican, David Gibbs, 80.3 percent.
District 18, Republican: Kris Muss, 66.12 percent.
District 22, Democrat: Caren Levenson, 51.83 percent.
District 22, Republican: Scott A. Sibley, 35.25 percent.
District 24, Republican: In an upset that may have been driven again by the tax increase from the last legislature, Assemblyman Jason Geddes, 45.18 percent, was defeated by Brooks Holcomb, 54.82 percent.
District 25, Democrat: Dan Meyer, 53.43 percent.
District 26, Democrat: Paul Mozen, 54.98 percent.
District 27, Republican: Larry Martin, 81.87 percent.
District 28, Democrat: Mo Denis, 51.38 percent.
District 28 Republican: Benjamin J. Bell, Sr., 59.74 percent.
District 29, Democrat: Susan Gerhardt, 89.68 percent.
District 29, Republican: Anthony Bandiero, 43.16 percent.
District 32, Democrat: Joan Morrow, 52.78 percent.
District 37, Republican: Sandra Vitolo, 62.68 percent.
District 42, Republican: Bob Adney, 65.1 percent.
Nevada Supreme Court
Supreme Court races are nonpartisan. The top two vote getters in each race will face off in November.
Seat A:
Jim Hardesty, 43.39 percent.
Cynthia Steel, 20.91 percent.
Seat E:
Ron Parraguirre, 38.61 percent.
John E. Mason, 19.04 percent.
The General Election is scheduled for November 2, just six weeks from now. Along with all the above, the ballot will feature the presidential race between Incumbent George W. Bush and John F. Kerry. There will also be many initiative petition questions, some still making their way through court, and local and regional offices that must be filled.
Minimum Wage Initiative To Be On November's Ballot After All
Limits On Attorney's Fees Will Also Be There: High Court Decree
The Nevada Supreme Court has taken the first step in clarifying a disputed section of our state constitution that appears on the surface to be in disagreement with federal law. The court ruled the state law requiring petition circulators to secure affidavits from people signing initiative petitions violates the U.S. Constitution.
That said, the court has guaranteed a position on November's ballot for the union backed initiative that calls for the state's minimum wage to be increased by one dollar to $6.15 per hour. This initiative if passed in November will have to appear on the 2006 General Election ballot as well before it can become law.
Another petition, the one called People for a Better Nevada, or better known as the Stop Frivolous Lawsuits initiative, an attempt to prohibit limits on attorney's fees will also appear on the November 2 ballot as a result of the court's action.
In July, Carson City District Judge Bill Maddox threw out the Nevada law calling for affidavits from people signing petitions in addition to affidavits from the circulators of the petitions themselves. Secretary of State Dean Heller appealed the ruling by Maddox and the high court upheld Maddox.
The Secretary has said he was looking for a final decision to in the future, circulators of initiative petitions will know the rules.
•••
There Are Other Initiative Petitions
Circulating, Some At Cross-Purposes
When the smoke clears from this election cycle, 2004 may go down as the year of the initiative petition, but not as the year in which the voice of the individual elector is heard loudest through the initiative process. Most of the petitions that have been circulated so far have come from groups and organizations with agendas, and that's the case of two new ones making the rounds of the Silver State at this time.
One, euphemistically referred to as the screw the lawyers petition, but actually called protect claimants' rights to fair recovery has to do with limiting attorney fees while the other, being circulated by slot route operators has to do with smoking.
Both of these petitions will have to first collect the necessary 51,000 valid signatures, then would have to be enacted by the legislature. If legislators fail to enact the measures during the first 40 days of the 2005 session, then the measure will appear on the 2006 General Election ballot.
There are no two anti-smoking petitions circulating, but one is designed to counteract the other. A petition being circulated called the Nevada clean indoor act would ban smoking in many places, including theaters, video arcades, child care facilities, government buildings, malls, all areas of grocery stores, schools, and all areas of indoor restaurants.
The second initiative would change ventilation in grocery store gaming areas, and rather than banning the use of tobacco in schools, would change the law to allow school districts the right to make their own rules. It would not prohibit smoking in restaurants or gaming areas of convenience or grocery stores.
•••
Democrats Held Slight Edge
During The Primary Election
We've moved into the final phase of Election 2004, and there's sure to be a continued push by all the political parties to get people registered to vote (See Opinion Page, this edition). There are still less than one million registered voters in Nevada.
For the Primary, Democrats held a slight edge, but as has been pointed out so many times, Nevadans may register for one party or another, but they seldom vote a party line.
In Congressional District 1, made up entirely of Clark County residents. Shelley Berkeley is the Incumbent. There are 118,286 Democrats, 77,677 Republicans, and 36,329 Non-partisans.
Congressional District 2, parts of Clark County and the rest of Nevada. Jim Gibbons is the Incumbent. There are 171,127 Republicans, 128,788 Democrats, and 52,251 Non-partisans.
Congressional District 3, Clark County only. Jon Porter is the incumbent. There are 136,549 Democrats, 133,774 Republicans, and 51,827 Non-partisans.
Statewide, the figures look like this:
Democrat - 383,651
Republican - 382-630
Non-partisan - 143,103
Independent American - 24,726
Libertarian - 5,490
Green - 2,942
Natural Law - 985
Reform - 215
Other - 2,239
•••
State Controller Charged With Many
Violations. Could Face Impeachment
The Nevada Ethics Commission will meet September 22 to discuss charges of violations of state law by Nevada Controller Kathy Augustine. The charges are serious enough that if found to be true, she could face impeachment by the legislature.
In a blistering report that led to the full hearing, the commission's executive director Stacey Jennings calls the charges "egregious." Augustine is accused of using employees in her office to do campaign work, forcing those employees to choose between conducting illegal campaign work or losing their jobs.
"The egregious nature of this conduct should be viewed through the perception of at least one employee who felt the necessity to choose between making her monthly mortgage payment or performing blatantly unethical tasks," according to Jennings's report.
Augustine has admitted that she should have known what she was doing was either illegal, or at the least, unethical, but she has denied full culpability.
Attorney General Brian Sandoval filed the original ethics complaint and says Augustine will "admit to willful violations" of ethics law. However, the Attorney General Chief Deputy, Gerald Gardner says it appears that Augustine or her attorney John Arascada appear to be minimizing the seriousness of her alleged violations.
A felony criminal complaint has been prepared by Sandoval's office but has not been filed at this time. Gardner says filing of the action will be determined by what actions come out of the June 22 Ethics Commission hearing.
Because of Nevada's term limit law, Augustine is in her second and last term as State Controller. She is forced to retire in 2006. Prior to running for statewide office, the republican controller served in the state assembly and senate.
•••
Yucca Rail Plan Draws AG Lawsuit,
319 Mile Line Called Ecological Disaster
A suit has been filed to stop the Department of Energy (DOE) from building the longest new rail line in Nevada for the last 100 years. Attorney General Brian Sandoval claims "DOE's plan violates the National Environmental Policy Act, the Interstate Commerce Act, and other federal mandates, rules, and regulations."
The rail line is being planned to run from an existing rail line at Caliente circuitously to Yucca Mountain. The line would travel through Lincoln, Nye, and Esmeralda Counties.
"With no public input whatsoever, DOE chose a new transport mode that DOE itself had rejected before," Sandoval said. Sandoval said by choosing a rail system to transport the highly radioactive nuclear waste to Yucca Mountain, they will be using an entirely new type of casks, not previously tested or analyzed.
The suit was filed in U.S. Federal Appeals Court in Washington, D.C., the same court that upheld at least one of Nevada's appeals before.
•••
Former District Court Judge Jeffrey Sobel Charged: Ethics
Nevada's Commission on Judicial Discipline has charged former District Judge Jeffrey Sobel with three violations of judicial ethics. He is being charged with forcing, or attempting to force attorneys before his bench to make political contributions to his campaign war chest.
Sobel says he has apologized for the ethical lapse, and says although what he did was in bad taste, it should have been taken more as a joke than a threat.
He has 20 days to respond to the charges. The commission has several options available to them including monetary sanctions, but since Sobel is no longer a sitting judge, he can't be disbarred, they say.
Gaming Revenue Off During July
Figures Don't Tell The Entire Story
The figures for Nevada's casino take weren't bleak by any standard, just not as bright as some had hoped as the Gaming Control Board released the money totals for July 2004 compared to July 2003. The total casino take was $812.5 million, off about 1.6 percent from last year. Some say the reason for the fall in casino winning was a combination of lucky gamblers at South Lake Tahoe, and golf tournaments in the same area, coupled with a four-week month. July 2003 was a five-week month.
In July this year, new taxes also played a part in the gaming win loss, and the state walked away with $49.2 million.
In Washoe County, the overall casino win was up 1.83 percent, while in south, the Clark County figure for July was off 1.32 percent. Elko County showed an increase of 2.51 percent. A couple of bright spots in the state are Wendover with a gaming win up 7.36 percent, Carson City, Gardnerville, Minden area up 12.23 percent, and North Lake Tahoe up 15.95 percent. Mesquite was up 16.55 percent while Laughlin showed an increase of 9.41 percent.
•••
State's Labor Market And Wages Continue Growth Pattern
According to the latest figures, Nevada's workforce has increased by about 44,000 workers this year, and it appears that wages have increased as well. Union representation of Silver State workers stands at about 180,000 members, mostly made up of workers from the so-called public sector, that is, government workers including police, fire, and other government agencies.
•••
Huge Pay Hike May Be In The Future For Reno City Council And Mayor
The era of the non-professional politician serving on Reno's City Council may be coming to an end as the body prepares to vote a 60 percent pay increase for members and the mayor. The council approved a resolution that increases the pay of the mayor to $60,000 from slightly less than $40,000, to be effective following the November 2006 elections.
The pay increases were sought by Mayor Bob Cashell.
A separate resolution to increase the salary of council members to $55,000 from $34,500, was also passed. It would effectively increase the salary of members elected in this 2004 cycle, and then for members elected in 2006.
To make the resolutions law, the current law must be repealed by ordinance, and a first reading of that ordinances was also heard at the September 8 meeting. The second reading will take place September 22, and a vote is expected at that reading.
•••
Governor's Industry Appreciation Awards Scheduled For November
The 20th annual Governor's Industry Appreciation Awards banquet will be held on November 9 in Sparks according to a release from the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN) one of the sponsors of the affair.
The awards are to honor businesses new to northern Nevada along with existing businesses that have shown good business practices or that have expanded during the past year. Tickets for the affair, also sponsored by the Northern Nevada Development Authority, and the Nevada Commission on Economic Development are priced at $125.
A Quick Look At History, Then And Now ...
(Ed. note: History is a funny thing, sometimes serious as all get out, sometimes just a bit frivolous. Here is an example of each.)
Journalists Haven't Really Changed Over Several Generations
In today's world we often hear how journalism has declined, how journalists don't really have any personal or professional ethics, how news sources all have some agenda or other. We hear of the liberal press, the conservative press, the tabloid press, we equate Geraldo with sleaze and Rupert Murdock with trying to rule the world through slanted journalism.
Thanks to long time Nevada journalist Dennis Myers, we have this tidbit to pass along, just to prove that what you might be complaining about your favorite news source, isn't the least bit new.
From Territorial Enterprise/September 7 1882 (same edition that carried a report on Chinese exclusion policies in Washington):
CHINA BEING DISTURBED.--Just now there is trouble on account of the uneasiness in the great earth-dragon. A Pekin [Beijing] dispatch states that "an overture has been presented to the Emperor of China praying that the deep mining operations at the K'ai-Ping mines, which are conducted on foreign methods, may be stopped, the reason given being that they have disturbed the earth-dragon, who will not allow the deceased Empress to rest quietly in her grave. The question has awakened much discussion, but the alleged fact of the troubled rest of the dead Empress has not been fully proved. It will be useless to stop work in any of the mines of China. The trouble comes from the deep mining on this side. Our Comstock miners have ousted the earth-dragon from his den, and he has made a dive over to the China side of the earth and caused a rattling among the dead bones of the defunct Empress. Our giant powder is too much for the earth-dragons and other subterranean devils of Mongolian breed.
•••
Papers From Major General Jesse Reno Union General For Whom Town Is Named
During the last 50 years or so, those responsible for running the city of Reno haven't given much thought to history, whether preserving it or making such, so it came as a bit of a surprise recently when the current Reno City Council popped for just under $21,000 to preserve some papers from Reno's namesake.
In the beginning, Reno was a crossroads, a place in which to cross the Truckee River, a ford in the road, if you will, with a toll crossing operated by a Mr. Lake, thusly named Lake's Crossing. Then, as the Central Pacific was making its way across the Great Basin the operators of the California Bank in San Francisco were starting to build the Virginia and Truckee Railroad with a planned spur to Lake's Crossing to join with the CPRR.
Since CPRR owned alternating square miles across the length of their rail line, they knew this would be a perfect place for a town, and laid out a plat map. And of course, such an area would need a town and a name. General Reno was a sort of hero to one of the so-called Big Four building the CPRR, and thus, we have Reno, NV 89500. Reno, the general, not the town, was killed during the Civil War, many years before the town became such.
Papers from the life of General Reno were collected by the late Moya Lear and have been on display at a local bank, but were coming for auction. The city was given a chance to purchase the documents prior to the auction, and did so. The originals will be housed at the Nevada Historical Society and reproductions will be displayed in the Reno City Hall.
There is a plan underfoot, at the cost of $34,000 to build a statue of General Reno for the city. The city donated some $6,800 recently to that fund and organizers of the memorial say they now are about to the halfway point in fund raising.
The organizing committee, called Jesse L. Reno, Memorial, Inc. is made up of Reno City employees. According to a news release from them, local artist Chris Atcheson has offered a rendering of what the statue might look like.
It isn't known at this time where the statue might be placed, but since the city is in the process of lowering the railroad tracks through town, the same rail line that created the town, it's doubtful the memorial statue can be placed near the tracks.
The Buzz Around the Silver State
From our Correspondents
The Capital (The Silver One)
PUC Weekly Media Update
September 13 – September 17, 2004
(Carson City) --- Here is the regular list of upcoming activities at the Public Utilities Commission.
MEETINGS SCHEDULED
SEPT 15 Consumer Session – Cal-Nev-Ari – 4 p.m.
Cal-Nev-Ari Casino
Application of Spirit Mountain Utility Company for authorization to increase rates for water service.
SEPT 16 10:00 a.m. Las Vegas Hearing Room A
Prehearing Docket 04-7006 (Cohen)
http://www.puc.state.nv.us/TELCOM/dkt_04-7006/04-7006.htm
Application of Lincoln County Telephone System for authority to modify certificate CPC 520 Sub 1 to expand its service territory to include the proposed development of Coyote Springs located in Clark County.
SEP 17 10:00 a.m. Video – Carson City Room A & Las Vegas Room A
Workshop Docket 03-11015 (Escobar-Chanos)
http://www.puc.state.nv.us/GAS/dkt_03-11015/03-11015.htm
Investigation of the use of and modifications to Purchased Gas Cost Adjustment tariff provisions.
SEP 17 2:00 p.m. Video – Carson City Room A & Las Vegas Room A
Regular Agenda
Full agenda will be available on the website on Sept. 14
Items of interest: Decision in the Duke power plant acquisition and financing dockets (04-6029 & 04-6030)
ENRON MATTERS
SEP 17 Opposition to Enron Motion for Summary Disposition due to FERC.
FERC Docket EL04-1
MAJOR FILINGS DUE THIS WEEK
None
-more-
MAJOR FILINGS LAST WEEK
SEP 1 Application of Nevada Power Company for approval of its Energy Supply Plan for 2005 – 2007 (reaffirmation of approval of the Harry Allen to Mead 500 kV component of the Centennial Transmission Project).
Docket 04-9004
SEP 8 Application of Newmont Nevada Energy Investment LLC for authority under the provisions of the Utility Environmental Protection Act (UEPA) for a permit to construct the TS Power Plant, an electric generation facility to be located in Eureka County, Nevada.
LOOKING AHEAD 2004
Updated Schedule
Westpac (Sierra Pacific)
Purchased Gas Adjustment Case – Docket 04-5020
Date
Oct. 13 Estimated Decision Date
Nov. 1 Proposed Effective Date
http://www.puc.state.nv.us/GAS/dkt_04-5020/04-5020.htm
SEP 20 /21 Workshop / Hearing – Docket 04-7017
Temporary Renewable Energy Development Program (TRED)
http://www.puc.state.nv.us/R_and_I/dkt_04-7017/04-7017.htm
Southwest Gas
Purchased Gas Adjustment Case – Docket 04-6001
Date
Sept. 21 Intervenor Direct Testimony Due
Oct. 4 Rebuttal Testimony Due
Oct. 11 – Oct. 14 Hearing
Nov. 10 Estimated Decision Date
Dec. 1 Proposed Effective Date
http://www.puc.state.nv.us/GAS/dkt_04-6001/04-6001.htm
•••
Story County
Landrum's Coming Alive On The Comstock
(Virginia City) --- For those who have lived in northern Nevada for many years, the name Landrum's brings back delightful memories of standing on Virginia Street either late at night or early in morning hoping for one of the very few seats at a hole in the wall diner, anticipating chili-cheese omelets, and a tongue lashing from the brash women who worked there. It's a good memory, and John Schafer of Virginia City is about to open Landrum's On The Comstock, featuring one of those brash women who knew how to make chili-cheese omelets like no one else in the world.
You probably won't see a critique of the new joint in the New York Times, but you should.
•••
Douglas County
$1.3 Million Federal Grant For Douglas County Airport
(Minden) --- The former Army Air Force training base from WWII, now called the Minden-Tahoe Airport just received a #1.3 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration. Airport Manager Jim Braswell says there is use for every cent of the grant.
Along with a considerable amount of general and corporate aviation, the airport is also home to the Minden Tanker Base and Sierra Front Dispatch Agency. Air tankers use the base for fire suppression flights.
The county contributed matching funds in the amount of $72,000.
•••
Clark County
Continued Problems Plaguing New Monorail System
(Las Vegas) --- So far, the cost factor is about $650 million and it doesn't work. Hailed as the next step in The Strip's 21st Century evolution, it appears the monorail won't be operating for the next several weeks after pieces of it fell off recently. It was the third time parts of the system have fallen off during operation. Luckily, no one has been injured.
Back in January, while the train was undergoing testing, not open for business yet, a drive shaft fell off while the train was moving. Then in august, a door was opened accidentally by a worker. The open door led to a steep drop from the elevated rail line. In this latest incident, a wheel fell from the train as it was moving. Warnings were given automatically by the system and ignored by the workers.
There has been continuing talk of expanding the monorail system, but that talk is being tabled until the operators can make the system work efficiently and safely.
•••
Only One Set Of Lobbyists For University System: Jim Rogers
(Las Vegas) --- During the last legislative session, many of the University System schools had lobbyists in Carson City, often working at odds with each other, often attempting to make things happen that no one at the head office knew about. Like changing Community College of Southern Nevada to a four year school. Interim System Chancellor Jim Rogers has decreed an end to such shenanigans, and named two people to represent the entire system during the 2005 session.
Named to represent the system are former assemblyman Josh Griffin and Nevada Resort Association lobbyist Tim Crowley. They will be paid $120,000 each for the year. He has told the individual schools, there are eight institutions that they can assist Griffin and Crowley, but will be restricted from doing any lobbying on their own.
•••
Lincoln County
Western Elite Dump Dumped On By Judge
(Alamo) --- Lincoln County District Judge Daniel Papez has ruled in favor of the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP), shutting down a dump outside Alamo. The dump was billed as a recycling facility by owners Western Elite, Inc, but an inspection by NDEP found the area was used simply as a refuse dump.
"The inspection revealed virtually no compliance with NDEP regulations," according to Nevada Attorney General Brian Sandoval. "Western Elite has been accepting construction and other waste from Clark County," Sandoval said. He continued, "This ruling is a victory for NDEP."
Alamo and the Western Elite dump are very close to the border of Lincoln and Clark Counties. Susan Gray, Deputy Attorney General said, "Western Elite was granted a reasonable amount of time by the court in which to comply, and they have not. Nevada is not a wasteland, period."
•••
Washoe County
Scooters, Skateboards, Mini Cycles Come Under Enforcement Regulations
The Reno Police Department plans to crackdown on operators of motorized scooters, skateboards, and mini motorcycles following a number of complaints and accidents. From now on, operators will need to be licensed drivers if the vehicles are operated on city streets, alleys, and highways.
Police say people who have lost their license through court action, such as DUI revocation, have started using these contraptions. Some youngsters have found they can terrorize pedestrians with them, and many don't feel they have to obey traffic rules.
"The police may initially sever warning notices, but not if the violation is egregious," a memo from the city explains. "While licenses for the vehicles themselves are not required by law," the release indicates, "operators must possess a valid driver's license."
Many of the riders seen regularly about town are under 16, the age required to hold a license to operate a motor vehicle. Police say those drivers will be cited.
Police say there have been numerous traffic accidents and incidents involving the vehicles.