Scooter Vigilante Shut Down

A scooter vigilante's activities in Scottsdale were short lived. A local columnist has an ambivalent take on the story.

1 minute read

June 16, 2019, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Joanna Allhands pens an opinion piece on the subject of Michael Smalley, who took a vigilante's to approach to scofflaw scooter users by impounding scooters and holding them for ransom. The idea wasn't unique to Smalley, who registered a business in Scottsdale to do the work of taking scooters ransom. Another company in San Diego attracted a lawsuit earlier this year for similar activities.

According to Allhands, Smalley was both wrong, and a folk hero.

Smalley, like many of us, was tired of seeing scooters turn up in the most annoying places. Like, oh, say, in the middle of the sidewalk.

But he didn’t just walk by and get annoyed, or silently curse companies for using public right of way to make money. He didn’t even report it to the city in hopes that some code enforcement officer would spring into action.

No. He impounded the darned things. Smalley even registered a business with Scottsdale to do this kind of work.

Smalley didn't ask permission, however, to impound private property, and has backed down from the practice since police were notified.

Allhands is clearly not a fan of scooters, if the editorializing apparent in the above quote didn't make clear.

Wednesday, June 12, 2019 in Arizona Republic

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Interior of Place Versailles mall in Montreal, Canada.

Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units

Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.

May 22, 2025 - CBC

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 28, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of California High-Speed Rail station with bullet train.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself

The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

May 19, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Woman and man in orange safety vests and hard hats doing surveying work at road construction site.

DOJ Seeks to End USDOT Affirmative Action Program

The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program encouraged contracting with minority- and women-owned businesses in the transportation sector, where these groups are vastly underrepresented.

15 minutes ago - The Washington Post

Aerial view of Missouri state capitol in Springfield, MO at golden hour.

A Missouri Tenant Union’s Fight Against Millennia Housing

In Springfield, Missouri, senior and disabled tenants at one Millennia affordable housing building say they’ve gone about a year without a working elevator, but their organizing has gotten the city to threaten receivership if it's not fixed soon.

1 hour ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Chicago Transit

Time Running Out for Illinois Transit Bill

Chicago-area transit agencies face a daunting budget gap if lawmakers fail to agree on a funding bill by the end of the current legislative session.

2 hours ago - Streetsblog Chicago