Wisconsin Town Asserting Power to Seize Bicycles, Scooters and Skateboards from Citizens

A Beaver Dam operations committee discussion about whether to strengthen an ordinance allowing police to seize private property unveiled a little-known ordinance that at best seems ill-advised and at worst seems unconstitutional.

The Beaver Dam Police Department asked the committee to consider allowing officers to confiscate motorized scooters, or any other self or manually propelled vehicle such as skateboards,  for five to 30 days.

The request was surprising enough, but even more shocking was the revelation that city ordinances already allow police to seize bicycles for up to 10 days.