(A) General. No driver of a two- or three-wheel motor vehicle or bicycle shall carry any other person on, upon or within such vehicle on any street or highway in the city, except as hereinafter provided; provided, however, that, if any two- or three-wheel motor vehicle with a wheel diameter of 12 inches or greater or any bicycle shall have either a double seating device with double foot rests or a side car attachment for each person riding therein so that such person shall be seated entirely within the body of said side car, then it shall be permissible for an operator who has attained the age of 16 years of age or older to carry a passenger. A demonstration ride by a licensed dealer or his or her employee is excepted from the provisions hereof. No motorcycle, bicycle or motor scooter shall be ridden upon any sidewalk of the city. No rider of a motorcycle, bicycle or motor scooter shall hold to any moving vehicle for the purpose of being propelled.
(B) Required equipment for motorcycles and motor scooters and motor driven cycles.
(1) Windshield. All vehicles covered under this section shall be equipped with a windshield of sufficient quality, size and thickness to protect the operator from foreign objects; except that, in lieu of such windshield the operator may wear goggles or face shield of material and design to protect him or her from foreign objects.
(2) Brakes. All vehicles covered under this section shall be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of same and to stop and hold such vehicle, including two separate means of applying the brakes. One means shall be effective to apply the brakes to the front wheel and one means shall be effective to apply the brakes to the rear wheels.
(3) Headgear. No person shall operate or ride upon any motorcycle, motorbike or motor scooter within the city unless such person is equipped with and wearing on the head a safety helmet with a secured chin strap and suspension lining, which said helmet shall conform to the type and design manufactured for the use of the operators and riders of such motor vehicles.
(4) Lights. All vehicles covered under this section shall carry at least one lighted headlamp capable of showing a white light visible at least 300 feet in the direction in which the same is proceeding, and one taillamp mounted on the rear which, when lighted, shall emit a red light plainly visible from at least 300 feet to the rear, and such lights required by this section shall be burning whenever such vehicles are in motion during the period from one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the streets are not clearly discernible at a distance of at least 500 feet ahead; provided that, a bicycle, in lieu of the red light in the rear, may carry a red or ruby glass reflector.
(5) Mufflers. Muffler cutouts are prohibited. No person shall drive a motor vehicle on any road, street or highway unless such vehicle is equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and annoying smoke.
(6) Crash bars. No person shall operate a motorcycle or motor scooter on any road, street or highway in the city unless such motor vehicle is equipped with crash bars.
(C) Special speed limitation on motorcycles and motor scooters. No person shall operate any motorcycle or any motor scooter at a speed greater than the speed limit posted; provided, however, in no event and at no time may an operator under the age of 16 operate a motorcycle or motor scooter at a speed greater than 25 mph.
(D) Penalty. Anyone violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a civil offense and shall be punishable under the general penalty clause for this code; provided further that, if any parent or guardian knowingly permits a minor to operate a motorcycle or motor driven cycle in violation of this section, such parent or guardian shall be guilty of a civil offense and shall be punishable under the general penalty clause for this code.
(1994 Code, § 15-121) (Ord. 494, passed 9-2-1993; Ord. 674, passed 6-26-2007) Penalty, see § 71.99