While Hampton reviews the safety issue, it will take a change in the rules at the state level to make a major impact on moped safety, according to Hampton Police Chief Chuck Jordan.

Jordan raised his concerns about mopeds and scooters in Hampton in a presentation to the City Council about two years ago. He said Monday he has been called back to discuss the issue.

At last Wednesday's City Council meeting the "tragedy" of Reece's death was raised by Councilman Ross Kearney. "We need to somehow find out what can we do to address the moped situation here," he said.

"We have young people and older people riding these mopeds and getting onto highways," he said.

Kearney said he was almost involved in an accident with a moped last month when a rider changed lanes on Mercury Boulevard. "And I'm looking at the back end of a moped going at 25 mph," he said.

"It's not just a case of young kids running around on side streets on mopeds," he said. "It's people, older people in my observation, getting onto major highways on things that aren't supposed to go 35 miles an hour and they're on a road that's going 45 miles an hour. It's an accident waiting to happen."

Kearney said if the city didn't have the power to change the rules, a case should be made to the General Assembly.

Increasing numbers of moped and scooter riders are taking to the roadways in the city and getting into accidents, Chief Jordan said Monday.

"We are seeing accidents and injuries increasing because mopeds are being ridden more and more," Jordan said.

There are some "inherent problems" with mopeds and scooters that travel at less than 35 mph. "You do not have to be a licensed driver to ride them," he said, "so there are people who have lost their license, driving them, or people who have never got a license."

Jordan said this means many riders are not obeying the rules of the road.

In addition, he said, the vehicles don't need to be inspected. "There are some inherent safety issues," he said.

Jordan said there were even some "homemade" vehicles on the roads of Hampton.

Some cities including Newport News, Chesapeake and Smithfield have laws directly related to scooters.

Virginia made some changes to the rules in 2008 in legislation that required all riders of scooters that can travel at more than 35 mph to have a Virginia title, registration card, insurance and license plate and a motorcycle driver's license.