"Pocket Rockets," Other Toy Vehicles Banned on City Streets

The City periodically receives questions about the regulation of toy vehicles or "pocket rockets" on sidewalks and streets within the City. Section 10.63.050 of the Lakewood Municipal Code restricts the use of skis, sleds, scooters, motorized scooters and other devices, and generally provides that:

It is UNlawful to operate such vehicles on any street or highway (except when crossing in a crosswalk); and

It is lawful to operate such vehicles on City sidewalks, as long as:

• The vehicle is not operated in a careless or imprudent manner, and
• The operator of the vehicle yields the right of way to any pedestrian on a sidewalk.

The full text of the City's ordinance is set forth below or linked here.

Lakewood Municipal Code
10.63.050 Restricted use of skates, skis, toboggans, toy vehicles, and all-terrain recreational vehicles.

A. No person shall use any street or highway for traveling on any skis, toboggans, coasting sleds, or similar devices. It is also unlawful for any person riding in or by means of any coasters, scooters, motorized scooters, motorized skateboards, toy vehicles or similar devices or engaging in any skating activity utilizing skates, roller skates, in-line skates, roller blades, or skateboards to go upon any roadway except while crossing a street in a crosswalk. When crossing a crosswalk, such person shall be granted all the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to pedestrians.

B. No person shall operate a scooter, motorized scooter, motorized skateboard, roller skates, in-line skates, roller blades, skateboards, toy vehicle, or similar device upon a sidewalk anywhere within this municipality in a manner as to demonstrate a lack of control over such device or his direction and manner of travel or in a careless and imprudent manner, without due regard for the safety of persons or property. Any person operating any of the above-described devices shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian upon a sidewalk.

C. No person shall operate an all-terrain recreational vehicle on a highway; except that the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a person operating an all-terrain recreational vehicle while the vehicle was being used primarily or exclusively in agricultural operations. For purposes of this subsection "all-terrain recreational vehicle" means any self-propelled vehicle which is designated to travel on wheels in contact with the ground, which is designed primarily for use off of the public highways, and which is generally and commonly used to transport persons for recreational purposes.

D. Any person who violates any provision of this section commits a Class 4 traffic offense.