Before you decide to ride a private electric scooter anywhere in America, first check the local laws and the specific rules and regulations of the state and city you`re in. While some states are to be commended for clarifying the lines of what is allowed and what is not allowed on an electric scooter, all 50 states have yet to reach the same level. In Georgia, electric scooters are legal on bike paths and lanes, so users can only use them on public roads when no lanes are available. Drivers must also adhere to a top speed of 20 miles per hour, and the weight limit is 100 pounds. Currently, Washington does not require scooters to be registered with the Washington Department of Transportation. Washington does not have a standard minimum age. Washington state also does not require users to wear a helmet. The only time you are allowed to drive an electric scooter on the sidewalk is to park the scooter or put a scooter parked on the street. Electric scooters must stay on the roads with a speed limit of 25 mph or less. The scooter must be equipped with a white front light visible from 500 feet away and a rear reflector visible from 600 feet away.
In the absence of state laws for electric scooters, South Carolina has allowed cities to pass their own regulations. Some cities, such as Charleston and Columbia, have banned electric scooters altogether. If you are outside of one of these two cities, you should check with the local authorities for the relevant scooter laws. Electric scooters are legal in New Jersey and the rules are relatively liberal. You don`t need a license or registration, and high-speed scooters are allowed – as long as you follow the restrictions that apply to bikes. But what if you want the convenience of owning and using your own electric scooter where you live or work? Unfortunately, the state of electric scooter law in the United States is just beginning to emerge, varying from state to state and even city to city. To better understand the issue, let`s take a look at an overview of federal legislation. California`s electric scooter laws prohibit drivers from driving more than 15 miles per hour.
Nebraska doesn`t have many clear laws for using electric scooters and advises drivers to follow other traffic rules. The only explicit restriction is that electric scooters are not allowed on sidewalks. Exceptionally, you can drive on a sidewalk, but you must « give the right of way to a pedestrian » and you must « give an acoustic signal before passing and passing the pedestrian ». (MCL 257 660(5). No state requires drivers to wear safety equipment to operate an electric scooter, but it is highly recommended for self-preservation. Helmets are required by law by 10 states, mainly for cyclists under the age of 18. We believe you should wear safety equipment at any age, but this is not a legal requirement. Although the state restricts the use of electric scooters, it also has a law that states that anyone over the age of 16 must wear a helmet. The new, fully revised guide to electric scooter laws includes the many changes over time, as well as a number of fundamental improvements to clarity, summary, original source reports, and the distinction between all scooters and shared scooters – and much more. In May 2019, Washington passed a scooter law that also applies to motorcycles, motorized bicycles, mopeds, electric bikes (electric bikes) and other mobility devices. The provisions of the law that apply to electric scooters, called motorized walking scooters, are as follows: When categorizing electric scooters similar to electric bikes, they must weigh less than 100 lbs.
and must not exceed 20 mph. You are not allowed to drive on sidewalks unless otherwise specified by local authorities. They should also include front and rear lights (or reflectors) and brakes. Virginia has laws in place as of July 2020. There is a maximum net weight of an electric scooter at 100 lbs (45 kg), its top speed at 20 mph (32 km/ h) and the minimum age of operation is 14 years. Driving on motorways is prohibited. The law also allows counties and cities to regulate or ban micromobility vehicles through local ordinances. The rise of e-scooters meant that few people were sure of the laws, and drivers often clogged sidewalks, causing more traffic and, in some cases, accidents. For electric scooters, North Carolina is the only state that currently requires registration. Nine states have decided to also require driver`s licenses to drive a scooter. However, this does not apply to other types of electric scooters or mopeds for which a license and/or registration would be required. Do I need insurance for my electric scooter? It also depends on your state`s laws, so check below for more details.
Missouri doesn`t have clear laws for electric scooters and instead uses other laws to impose them. For example, any scooter with a top speed of less than 30 miles per hour falls into the category of bicycles – but the above falls under motorcycle laws. Four of the states — California, Colorado, Massachusetts, and New York — don`t allow scooters on highways, highways, or restricted roads, as most scooters are unable to reach safe speeds to keep up with traffic. California Vehicle Code (CVC) § 21235 was written specifically for electric scooters with an electric motor, board and handlebar. One of the sections of it requires cyclists under the age of 18 to use a bicycle helmet on an electric scooter. This bike helmet must fit properly. It must also be fixed. One thing Oklahoma cities take seriously is the minimum age for drivers. You must be at least 18 years old to use them. All of this can get confusing as electric scooter laws vary from state to state. They do not require cyclists to take a DMV test specific to electric scooters.
People can get away with driving them without any special knowledge of motorized scooter laws. In this article, we will try to dispel some of the confusion. As electric scooters invade the United States, it`s important to know that there are strict laws for their use. The law of each state is different, so it`s important to know the law if you want to move or use your scooter in another state. And again, only Pennsylvania and Delaware actually ban scooters on the street. You`ll be surprised to learn that cool niche communities for high-speed scooters are emerging, but the majority of people are happy to ride at 15 mph or 20 mph. All but two of the 50 states had electric scooter laws. In South Carolina, a statewide electric scooter law has yet to be ratified. And Wyoming has no information available about electric scooter laws: DMV.org recommends residents call their county treasurer and « hope for the best. » Unagiscooters.com has created a comprehensive 2021 guide to the latest electric scooter laws, including a guide to Washington state laws. (Unagi sells electric scooters.) Unagi says the use of electric scooters, called micromobility, is on the rise.
The company claims that even when there are laws about electric scooters, many of those laws are not enforced. Unagi recommends that all electric scooter users consider the rights of pedestrians, other drivers (e.g., cyclists), and cars that are unlikely to see an electric scooter on the road. Whatever you do, wearing a helmet ensures your safety, and as electric scooters become more advanced at higher speeds, it`s wise to get the best protection possible. In many states, the minimum age to ride an electric scooter is 16, but some states are more liberal.
