BOSTON (AP) – The state Legislature has taken steps to crack down on minibikes, those 2-foot-high motorcycle imitations that have a lot of people upset.

Every state legislator in this building has received call after call from concerned citizens awoken a midnight to what sounds like a lawn mower zooming the wrong way down the street, playing Russian roulette with oncoming traffic,” said state Sen. Jarrett R. Barrios, a Cambridge Democrat who chairs the Joint Committee on Public Safety. “Young people are using them in great number, and with reckless abandon.”

The House on Thursday passed a bill requiring drivers of the mini-motorbikes and Segway scooters to be at least 16 years old, have a valid driver’s license and to obey the rules of the road, such as staying off sidewalks and bicycle paths, driving on the proper side of the street and using turn signals. The scooter operators also would not be allowed to go faster than 20 mph, or drive after dark.

The state Senate already has adopted the measure.

Also yesterday, the Legislature sent to Governor Romney a bill requiring that anyone 16 or younger wear a helmet while riding bikes, scooters, skateboards or inline skates.

Under current law, children 12 and younger must wear helmets while riding bicycles on public paths or roads. There are no helmet requirements in state law for people using skateboards, inline skates and manually propelled scooters on public ways, said an aide to the Committee on Public Safety.

AP-ES-08-20-04 1144EDT