MORRISTOWN (12/12/06) - Legislation sponsored by Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose and Senator Bob Littell, which would allow children with a mobility-related disability to use some public roads and lands while riding a motorized scooter, was approved today by the full General Assembly.

"Giving children with disabilities the opportunity to grow up in a setting where they can hang out and play with their friends is essential to each child's confidence and well being as they meet the daily challenges of their circumstance," said McHose, R-Sussex, Hunterdon and Morris.

"Allowing these children to accompany their bike-riding friends on scooters while they play around the neighborhood ensures that they are permitted to participate in everyday childhood pastimes and allows them to enjoy the outdoors in a safe, healthy manner."

The Assembly and Senate measures, A-2069 and S-1074 respectively, enable minors who are bound to wheelchairs or motorized scooters to use local and county roads with 25-35 mph speed limits, sidewalks and public property for transportation. The measure requires the scooter to stay below 15 mph, be equipped with a brake, and the rider to wear a helmet.

In addition, a sticker or placard, which indicates the person may operate a motorized scooter in public places, will be issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles to holders of a handicapped personal identification card. Insurance will be required as a condition for registration. Currently, the law prohibits all individuals from riding motorized scooters in such places.

People with disabilities deserve every opportunity to fully participate in life," said Littell, "this bill would allow many people to have the mobility they need to enjoy many recreational and educational facilities."

"This bill is an important step toward making sure disabled people have the chance to spend time with anyone, wherever it may be," said McHose. "The law shouldn’t prevent children from socializing with others just because they're not allowed to ride a scooter in the street."

McHose added that this bill is in honor of Matthew Tempe, a 14 year old Hamburg child who has muscular dystrophy which confines him to a motor scooter. "I was riding the scooter with my friends when a police officer pulled me over and told me about the law," said Matthew. "I didn't know that it's illegal."

"It basically took family recreation away from us. We couldn't even go to parks or Wildwood to enjoy the boardwalk," said Karl Tempe, Matthew’s father. "The law basically confined him to a wheel chair," said Matthew’s mother, Jeannette. "This proposal would help children with similar disabilities who want to ride their bicycle," she noted while linking a disabled person's scooter to a walking person’s bicycle.