PIERRE, S.D. (AP) South Dakota's state highway safety director says young children who operate motorized Skateboard-type scooters are at risk because they don't know the proper precautions.

Ron Meyer says young people don't have experience yet with the rules of the road.

Meyer says a motorized scooter once shot in front of him from an alley and that if he hadn't slammed on his brakes, he would have hit the young driver.

While some states may allow the scooters on streets, Attorney General Larry Long says they are not legal on public rights of way in South Dakota. The electric scooters are classified by state law as motor vehicles.

Federal and state laws require motor vehicles to have certain safety equipment that the scooters generally do not have. Long says that shortcoming bars them from being used on streets and highways.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission advises against use of the scooters by children younger than 12. The agency also recommends against riding the scooters on the street.

(By AP Writer Joe Kafka) (Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 09-17-06 2000CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list