Title
Bicycle Registration Program (B)
This item gives a history of the bicycle registration in the City and offers options to be considered if the City moves toward reinstating this program. **ESTIMATED STAFF PRESENTATION 10 MINUTES**
Explanation
At a recent City Commission meeting, Commissioner Hinson-Rawls requested that the City and County jointly speak about a Bicycle Registration Program. In preparation for this discussion, staff was requested to present a history of bicycle registration programs in the City, discuss the statutory enabling legislation for a program of this nature, discuss alternatives of how a program may be useful and provide any history or comparisons to other local governments in Florida for fees charged for such a program and how those fees may be used.
Information Points:
History
-In 1983, there was a mandatory bicycle registration which made anyone utilizing the roadways with a bicycle to get a license.
-The fee was $5.00 to register the bicycle and $1.00 to replace a stolen/damaged decal.
-The program was developed to assist Law Enforcement in the recovery of stolen bicycles.
-If a bicycle was located without a legal registration, the bicycle could be impounded for a fee of $1.00.
-Civil Citations were charged for any portion of this ordinance with varying fees.
-Registrations were taken at several firehouses, parks and recreation areas, and the Police Department.
Other Agencies
-Other Florida Agencies that have bicycle registration programs are Ft. Lauderdale, St. Petersburg, and Daytona Beach. Their programs have mandatory registration guided by ordinance with no cost or $1.00 to register a bicycle.
-All programs are geared towards helping reduce bicycle theft and the recovery of stolen bicycles.
-No impoundment fees are charged for individuals whose bicycles have been impounded.
-These programs are not geared towards increasing funds, they are focused on theft prevention. All the agencies were not promoting this program for bicycle safety or to reduce crashes. There is no crash analysis data to determine if a bicycle registration/license program existed would it impact traffic crashes involving bicycles and bicycle safety. These programs were designed as Law Enforcement tools to recover stolen bicycles, not for road maintenance or bicycle safety.
-Police Departments are responsible for the registration of the bicycles.
Currently
-Both GPD and The University of Florida Police Department have free bicycle registration programs for both students and residents.
-GPD's program is an on-line application. Once completed, a registration sticker is mailed to the applicant.
-UFPD's program mandates that the individuals come to the police station to turn in the application and then they receive a sticker.
-Alachua County Sheriff's Office Crime Prevention Unit is evaluating the potential of teaming up with GPD to have a combined registration program.
Law
-An ordinance could be drafted to establish a mandatory bicycle registration/licensing program for all bicycles in the City. It has been done in several other jurisdictions, but the fees are usually $1.00 or free.
Pro Argument
-Bicycle registration of all bicycles in the city could assist in the recovery of stolen bicycles and the apprehension of the individuals who stole the bicycle.
Con Argument
-Licensing and Registration could be seen as punitive and costly to a bicyclist instead of a tool to assist law enforcement.
-Deters individuals from cycling
-Lower income individuals may not be able to pay fines or pay for registration/licensing fees.
During a discussion of this referral at the July 28, 2014 Public Safety Committee meeting, GPD staff gave a presentation to include three Florida cities who charge all bicyclists a license fee and have fines in place for those who do not comply.
The members of the Public Safety Committee did not come to a consensus on this referral and requested that the item go to the full City Commission for discussion.
Fiscal Note
None at this time.
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) hear a presentation from staff; 2) provide guidance as appropriate; and 3) remove this item from the Public Safety Committee Referral list.