Pictured is Richard Harrington, who came to the City Council’s Public Safety Committee to discuss an ongoing safety issue with mini bikes in the city. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

Younger citizens of Jamestown dangerously riding unlicensed mini bikes in the city has been brought to the attention of the city’s Public Safety Committee.

During Monday’s meeting, city resident Richard Harrington brought the issue to the committee, saying these bikes have become a safety issue.

“There have been some juveniles riding unregistered, unlicensed mini bikes and stuff up and down the sidewalks and the streets for the last three years,” Harrington said. “I’m here to ask your help and guidance to try and get this resolved. … I understand you guys must be crazy busy, but it’s gotten to the point, even on my way home tonight a young gentleman almost hit me head on.”

Additionally, Harrington said the most common times these bikes have been out is between 3 p.m. and dinner time, and also after dark. When out after dark, he said they also do not have lights. Harrington said he has seen one almost hit a police officer, and that they are continuing to be unsafe in the city.

“Something’s got to be done before it ends up being a real disaster,” Harrington said.

Several of Harrington’s neighbors have expressed concerns about the mini bikes to him as well. Councilman Bill Reynolds, R-Ward 5, said last year when there was a nuisance officer for the city some of the bikes were ticketed and hauled away, but that they are back at it now.

“I know personally from the police department they have been cited or scolded or however you want to make it happen,” Reynolds said.

Harrington said he wanted to bring it before the council before a disaster happened. Jeff Russell, R-At Large and chair of the public safety committee, said that the mini bikes have been a pet peeve for him, and asked that the city Police Department for a zero tolerance policy on them.

“I’ve asked before and I will ask again to have zero tolerance on these mini bikes, John Deere lawn tractors, anything used on a public highway,” Russell said. “I’m asking publicly that if a police officer drives by one of these individuals, whether it’s a juvenile or an adult, and if they are not on their way to an in-progress call that they stop that vehicle, that they cite the driver and that they tow that vehicle, whatever it is, whether it be a John Deere tractor or mini bike or whatever.”

He added that if regular vehicles are required to be licensed and registered, the mini bikes should be too, but also that he knows officers are busy. Harrington said he in no way was looking to bring anything negative against the police department, and that he used to ride motorcycles too, but this has been something going on for three years. Deputy Chief Scott Forster said that if Harrington sees it going on he can call them and that the department will send someone down as soon as they can.

“If it’s going on constantly we can send someone up there as soon as they’re available,” Forster said. “Unfortunately, like you said, we deal with it every year, and when it starts to get warm we start dealing with it again. So, we are going to make sure we focus on that this year, this summer, on that issue.”