Tickets for the naughty, free ice cream for the nice Tickets for the naughty, free ice cream for the nice (December 17, 2003)

Menlo Park police launch kids' bike-safety campaign

By Rebecca Wallace
Almanac Staff Writer

Just like lead-footed moms and dads, scofflaw young bicyclists can now get tickets, too.

In hopes of preventing head injuries and fatalities caused by smash-ups, the Menlo Park Police Department is amping up enforcement of bicycle safety laws among children. As part of a program designed by Officer William Voorhees, officers will be making sure young bicyclists are wearing helmets, using lights at night, and riding bicycles with working brakes, Cmdr. Bruce Goitia said.

When an officer spots a kid under 17 not following these laws, the officer will take a digital photo of the youngster at the scene and issue a special ticket that requires him or her to go to the police station within 21 days and display a working helmet, lights or brakes, Cmdr. Goitia said. Otherwise, the child faces a $24 fine.

Young bicyclists getting tickets will also have to walk home.

Before this program was in place, violators simply had a letter mailed to their homes, with no fine, Cmdr. Goitia said: "There was no follow-up until the second or third offense."

The program isn't all about admonitions, though; officers spotting youngsters using the proper safety equipment correctly will hand out certificates for free ice cream and sandwiches at local businesses.

In addition, the Menlo Park chapter of the Kiwanis Club has donated about 250 bicycle helmets to the program, Cmdr. Goitia said.

Pipo Bui, chair of the city's Bicycle Commission, said her group was thrilled with the plan and with a recent presentation made by police officers to the commission.

"All of us were just struck with how well thought-out the design is ... by the end of the talk, all we could ask was, 'How do we donate to the free ice cream fund?'" she said.

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