SERGEANT BLUFF, Iowa (KTIV) – For two years, some Sergeant Bluff residents have been raising red flags about electric scooters zipping through streets, sidewalks, and trails.
In 2025, 8 out of 23 council meetings included comments from a council member, mayor, or the public regarding e-bike concerns.
Next week, city leaders could be making changes to the city code.
Picture of proposed changes to Code 77 for Sergeant Bluff regarding e-bike concerns.(KTIV)
The proposed changes would add minimum age requirements in public spaces, with the new age minimum ranging from 12 to 18 years old, depending on device class. The devices would be prohibited at the Recreation Complex. A registration component would require a city-issued sticker to be attached to the device before use, with fees and procedures set by a future City Council resolution.
Currently, the schedule fines for operators violating these regulations are $10. The proposed change increases fines ranging from $25 to $250, depending on the violation. The code already requires helmets, a light if used at night, and brakes.
The current policy states that any parent or legal guardian who allows a person in his or her custody, control, or supervision to violate any provision of this chapter may be cited in accordance with this chapter for such violation.
Said violations may include impounding of the motorized scooter, electric bicycle, or other personal transport vehicle and/or a monetary fine.
Follow this link to the full statement on the proposed change from Sergeant Bluff.
“The last thing we want is to have a really tragic accident,” said Aaron Lincoln, city administrator for Sergeant Bluff.
Since 2004, Sergeant Bluff has had a code enforcing e-scooters, but the city is expanding it due to what officials call several close calls.
“We see kids weaving in and out of driveways. They’re very low to the ground, just a concern from the driving public in our residential areas. It’s been a very large issue in terms of safety,” Lincoln said.
Education efforts come first
Education was the city’s first line of action, but the comments and concerns continued. Several leaders decided to revamp the code.
“It addresses some of the motor scooter type vehicles, but it seems like there’s a new product coming out every year, every few months, that it wasn’t really covering the full aspect. So part of the main issue is addressing safety,” Lincoln said.
“We also feel like we need to have rules in place so that people understand what you can and can’t do,” said Jeremy Muller, Sergeant Bluff police chief.
Small electric-powered devices would be banned at the Recreation Complex, a popular area with reports of close calls and nuisance.
“It’s where a lot of the complaints have come from, as well as that rec area where kids are just flying through and pushing people off the sidewalks, and people have to get out of the way, had to pull their dog out of the way,” Muller said.
Registration and enforcement
If approved, registration could be required for all personal electric vehicles used on city sidewalks, streets or trails. The proposed ordinance allows a registration process, and the council can set fees and requirements. The ordinance does not have a registration process in detail. Once the ordinance is passed, the council would have to take a separate action on a resolution to determine what that looks like.
“I think the purpose of the registration from most of the council is to get, so that’s an opportunity to get information to the kids on safety,” Lincoln said. “It’s not a ‘we’re going to be out looking and trying to check IDs for people to see how old they are.’ It’s really more if you’re being reckless and irresponsible by the rules that are set, that’s when we react.”
Muller said the department is working on proactive relationships and hopes people call in when they see recklessness.
“It’s going to require the public to help us out there,” Muller said.
The city says age minimums were set based on manufacturer recommendations. Muller reiterated, “I think a lot of these devices that people are buying for their kids could say 12 and up, and we got a seven-year-old riding it. So there’s some of that going on.”
Muller said officers have been instructed to educate riders on the spot when they see unsafe behavior.
“Right now, with some of these kids that are causing some issues that are repeated, keep doing it over and over, we really don’t have any recourse or any way to say, okay, if you’re going to keep doing this, we’re going to do something in response. And the council is trying to give us a way to have some teeth, per se, to get those kids to actually listen and change,” Muller said.
Muller adds that he is grateful for the recent conversation on Facebook and wants residents to attend the meetings.
“I want those people to show up and I want the council to hear that from them, not just on Facebook and think that that’s going to fix the world being on Facebook and giving the information. You need to show up, be a part of this conversation so that as a community we can get this ordinance correct,” Muller said.
“We don’t want to see any accidents, serious injuries, or fatalities. So that’s really at the heart of it,” Lincoln said.
The City Council will meet next week at City Hall to consider the ordinance changes.
The second reading of the ordinance is on Tuesday, April 14, at 5:30 p.m., and a third reading on Tuesday, April 28, at 5:30 p.m.
The proposed changes were made at the discretion of Sergeant Bluff city staff, the police department, and one of the council members, using input from others.
KTIV has created a poll on e-scooters and whether they should be regulated. To participate, follow this link.
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