By Lori EhdeSpring weather has local streets crawling with mo-peds, go-peds and motorized skateboards. Sheriff Mike Winkels wants to clarify rules and laws governing who gets to drive them and where."It’s been a controversial issue," Winkels said. "And a lot of people are confused about the laws."At issue, he said are three different types of scooters, each with their own set of rules.Gas-powered scootersMost problematic, Winkels said, are the gas-powered, 49 cc scooters.The "Twist ’N Go," for example, looks like a mo-ped and drives like a mo-ped, but it doesn’t have pedals and reaches speeds upwards of 30 mph (mopeds go 15 mph).It used to be classified as a motorcycle, which meant a driver’s license was necessary, but it’s been recently reclassified as a moped.To drive one, operators need to be 15 or older with a motorized bicycle endorsement on their driver’s permits.Winkels said some local 13- and 14-year-olds are driving the gas scooters — a violation that could earn them a $163 fine, and possibly delayed driving privileges until 18 years old.He also added that licensed drivers younger than 18 are required to wear a helmet (a bicycle helmet will do) and eye protection while operating a scooter. Those 18 and older are required to wear only eye protection.Motorized skateboardsThe motorized skateboards with handlebars, Winkels said, can be driven only on private property.Operators can push them manually from one location to another on a public sidewalk, but the motors can be engaged only on private property.The "go-peds" can reach speeds of 15 mph and have no age requirement by law.Winkels reminds all skateboarders and in-line skaters that the downtown area is restricted from skating of any kind. Sidewalks are marked accordingly.Electric scootersElectric-powered scooters are creating fewer problems for law enforcement, but Winkels said the laws governing their use are most confusing.He said state legislators are still debating the merits of allowing electric scooters on sidewalks, because they were originally designed to aid pedestrians with disabilities."The speed on these is minimal (15 mph), and so far, we haven’t had too many complaints about them," Winkels said.So far, he’s telling people to ride electric scooters on sidewalks, and there’s no minimum age for operating them.Further questions can be directed to Winkels at the Rock County Law Enforcement Center, 283-5000.