Aurora parents face $250 fine for allowing kids to ride dirt bikes on streets

AURORA | Aurora parents now face fines of $250 or more if they let their kids drive so-called dirt bikes on city streets and property.

“It’s literally every day where your constituents are being hit by these (motorized bikes), there’s accidents occurring, and it’s become quite the problem that I’ve never seen before,” Steve Spanos, patrol officer, said during a meeting Sept. 8.

The measure was approved unanimously on second reading by the Aurora City Council Monday night.

The ordinance change adds a section to city laws making it illegal for parents or guardians to “knowingly permit anyone under 18 to operate or ride an off-highway vehicle in violation of existing city restrictions.”

“Dirt bikes” are the small, motorized cycles intended for off-road recreation. Most do not meet minimum street regulations, but minors are prohibited from driving any motorized vehicles on city streets and public roads without a valid driver’s license.

Actually, dirt bikes are illegal throughout the city and cannot even be driven in the parks. 

“We have already done a lot of education outreach on social media, but we’ll be expanding that educational campaign so that parents are aware of what constitutes one of these off-highway vehicles,” Françoise Bergan said during the Sept. 8 meeting.

Some electric bicycles are allowed on the street and on the sidewalks, but if they are “pedal-less” or go more than 28 miles per hour under motor power, then they’re considered off-highway vehicles, Bergan said. 

“One caveat I’ll mention is that some of the bikes that have the pedals may have been modified, and that, of course, would be illegal to modify your bike so that it goes 40 or 50 miles an hour,” Bergan said.  

Parents who plead or are found guilty of the proposed measure would face a minimum fine of $250, according to the bill language. The new measure would levy penalties separate from those imposed for infractions by the minor dirt-bike driver.

City officials said in legislation details that the proposed change was prompted by a rise in accidents and injuries tied to dirt-bike riding by minors in Aurora and the surrounding region. Many of the complaints have surfaced in southeast Aurora, according to city officials.

Despite current prohibitions on off-highway vehicle use in city streets, sidewalks, open spaces and business areas, officials said minors continue to ride with little resistance.

“Just an attempt to keep our streets safe and keep everyone safe,” Bergan said.