2009-08-24: Letter from Roderick Wilde to Port Townsend Chief of Police Connor Daily

posted by Roderick on Sun, 10/25/2009 - 15:28

  From: Wilde Roderick <roderick@evparts.com>

Subject: Clarification of Law

Date: August 24, 2009 1:31:12 PM PDT

To: Wilde Roderick <roderick@evparts.com>

 

Dear Chief Daily,

I am writing to you as a concerned citizen of Port Townsend, as a member of AARP since 1995, and as the President of EV Parts, Inc. It appears that Senate Bill 5482 has redefined motorized foot scooters. It appears by taking out the part that says "or sat" upon in the definition that the law is intended to exclude using the removable seat that comes with almost all motorized foot scooters manufactured today capable of carrying an adult. Is this indeed the case? If this is the case what is the law that someone would be breaking if they chose to sit on their seat? There are many that can not stand. Please cite the RCW and the fine associated with it. As a person over 60 with a bad knee I personally prefer to use my seat. It is also far more stable in the seated position making it much safer for use in transportation.

 
  As the President of EV Parts, Inc. Located in Sequim, WA we routinely sell these three and two wheel motorized foot scooters to the elderly and handicapped. For my business I need this clarification so that I can warn my customers that they can no longer use the seat. As a member of AARP I would also like to write an article for their publication warning their members who travel to Washington State of this new law. Many elderly and handicapped persons take these vehicles with them in their motorhomes so they can have local transportation. As the Chief of Police I am sure you have all of this information at your fingertips so I would greatly appreciate a timely response.
 
              Roderick Wilde
         President EV Parts, Inc.
Your Electric Vehicle Parts Superstore
          157 West Cedar Street
            Sequim, WA  98382
 
 
 
 
 
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2009 4:51 PM
Subject: RE: Clarification of Law
 

Roderick, I appreciate your email concerning the wide variety of issues the new definitions have created.  I am sorry to say that I do not have the answers to your questions nor is the information at my fingertips.  We here at the police department are working with the Washington State Patrol to clarify these definitions.  The State Patrol are the experts for these issues through their Department of Equipment and Standards.  When I am able to get some answers to your questions I will be glad to pass on any and all the information that I receive.

 

 

Conner L. Daily

Chief of Police

Port Townsend Police Department

607 Water Street

Port Townsend, WA 98368

360-385-2322

 

 

From: Wilde Roderick <roderick@evparts.com>

Subject: Re: Clarification of Law

Date: August 27, 2009 5:52:00 PM PDT

To: Conner Daily <cdaily@cityofpt.us>

 

 

Dear Chief Daily,
 
  Thank you very much for the reply. I am sure that you can understand my concerns from several positions. Do you have contact information for the proper person for me to ask at the Washington State Patrol? I understand that they proposed the legislation so one would think they had some idea of why and what the consequences would be. I am sure they did not enter this blindly. They most likely did very expensive studies to back up their reasoning for passing legislation that would negatively effect the freedom of transportation for many elderly and handicapped individuals. Please also feel free to pass on my emails to anyone who would be interested in this situation. It seems to me if the legislature changed the law that they would first inform the people that are to enforce the new laws that they enacted and are now in effect. It appears that someone somewhere is not doing their job.
 
Roderick
 
    Roderick Wilde,  President,  EV Parts Inc.
              Your Online EV Superstore
                       www.evparts.com
              Tech Support 1-360-385-7082
 Phone: Orders: 360-582-1270  Fax: 360-582-1272
      157 West Cedar Street, Sequim, WA 98382

 

 

 

 

----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, September 01, 2009 12:14 PM
Subject: Definitions
 

Below are a couple of web links that I hope will help you understand the new laws pertaining to electric vehicles.

 

Melissa can be reached at equipment@wsp.wa.gov ;

 

  

You may also find some good information at our website following this link;

 

Driver & Vehicle - Washington State Patrol 

 

I hope these connections help.

 

Conner L. Daily

Chief of Police

Port Townsend Police Department

607 Water Street

Port Townsend, WA 98368

360-385-2322

 

 

 

From: Wilde Roderick <roderick@evparts.com>

Subject: Re: Definitions

Date: September 8, 2009 11:25:29 PM PDT

To: Conner Daily <cdaily@cityofpt.us>

 

 

Dear Chief Daily,
 
  Thanks much for the information. I have been very busy lately and had somehow missed this email.
 
Roderick Wilde
 

 

 

Comments

On Sun, 10/25/2009 - 15:40

What law I will break choosing to sit?

If he states that if you sit it changes the type of your vehicle to another type then I will counter with, "Then if I remove the seats in my car and stand up to drive it is no longer an automobile. If I remove two wheels then and stand up and limit the speed to 20 mph then my car becomes a stand up board scooter.." :-)

By Roderick

On Sun, 10/25/2009 - 15:41

Today will be the fourth attempt to get the city government to just acknowledge receipt of my email with no response so far. After a week of daily requests for confirmation of my email request I will send them a certified letter. If I get no response from that I will go to my attorney.

By Roderick