Mini motorcycles putt through regulation loopholes.

If you live in the suburbs, chances are pretty good that you've seen--and heard--neighborhood kids racing around on mini motorcycles or pocket bikes. They look like motorcycles, but are only a fraction of the size. And they are fast and loud and dangerous. Many states have tried to figure out how these vehicles should be defined and whether or not new laws are needed to regulate them.

Several state attorneys general are saying that existing laws are enough to keep them off he roads. They reason that since pocket bikes and mini motorcycles technically qualify as motor vehicles, they are subject to the same licensing, registration and insurance regulations. Since the devices do not meet federal safety standards for on-road vehicles, such as lights, signals, reflectors and mirrors, however, they can't be registered or licensed as a motor vehicle and can't be operated on streets or sidewalks.

Motorized scooters--souped tip versions of the old foot-propelled ones--have also caused quite a bit of confusion when it comes to state laws. These new scooters not only disrupt quiet summer evenings, they're also dangerous. A total of 5,900 people (mostly kids) were treated in emergency rooms in 2002 for injuries resulting from scooter use, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The problem is that many states have laws applying to skateboards, bikes and human-propelled scooters, but not motorized ones.

Delaware passed a law this year that defines the scooters as "go-peds or motorized skateboards or scooters," requires operators to be licensed and restricts where they can be driven.