We all have to get around and we applaud the initiative of those who, for one reason or another, find alternative ways to do just that.

Gas prices are high and the effort to find economical ways to go from Point A to Point B is an honorable thing.

It becomes a problem, however, when it infringes on the rights of other motorists.

Rude motorists in trucks, cars and motorcycles have cut us off. Rude scooter riders are no exception and the Roanoke Rapids Police Department’s plans to crack down on those who ride them illegally is an important effort to make the roads safer.

The crackdown is simple enough to follow — operate a scooter with an engine displacement of less than 50cc with a top speed no greater than 30 miles per hour then you are a bicyclist. Operate one that can go more than 30 miles per hour or has an engine displacement of 50cc or more then you need a license, registration, motorcycle endorsement and insurance.

We believe these are fair rules to follow because it isn’t fair that a negligent scooter rider who is at fault in a wreck should not have to pay up because they don’t have insurance.

It is also unfair that a vehicle that is nothing more than a moped should have the luxury of hogging the center travel lane and slowing us down when the rules of the road clearly say they should be on the side like a bicycle.

It appears to us the Roanoke Rapids Police Department has clearly studied the matter to begin a month long enforcement effort that will begin with warnings and if the warnings aren’t heeded start with citations.

This enforcement effort, we believe, is fair and just and gives motorists some protection in the event of a mishap.

We believe it also protects the operators of scooters by having them insured, licensed and inspected and it should go a long way in making sure someone who bought a scooter because their driving privileges were revoked or suspended doesn’t do the same thing they did to lose those privileges to begin with.

If it sounds like we’re coming down hard on scooter operators we don’t mean to be and clearly the police department isn’t either. As Sergeant Richard White told us, “We’re not trying to make it hard on people getting around. We’re here for them to be in compliance for safety reasons.” — Editor