Electric scooters can be used on sidewalks. However, the right-of-way is still with pedestrians. The driver is also responsible for signalling in the event of a turn or when overtaking and overtaking pedestrians. Any city in Vermont can make its laws, but electric scooters are considered vehicles in the state, so only road use is allowed. Some cities, such as Burlington, have a speed limit of 15 miles per hour. South Dakota uses moped laws to regulate electric scooters, and the most common restrictions affect drivers who need a license and insurance. People are also expected to wear protective equipment if they are under the age of 18. Ohio didn`t legalize e-scooters until 2021, and the state doesn`t require drivers to have a license or register their scooters. However, you cannot use a scooter that exceeds 100 lbs and 20 miles per hour.
People under the age of 16 are not allowed to use the scooter. Alabama legalized electric scooters in 2019, but the state allows cities to create their laws for electric scooter drivers. Tuscaloosa and Auburn have not legalized electric scooters on public roads, but other cities like Birmingham have. No seriously, everything, including the speed limit, where scooters are allowed on the road, where you have to ride on the sidewalk and where DMV registration is required. Let`s start with where electric scooters are allowed. In particular, the laws adopted in 2018 to control and regulate the use of “electric skateboards”. I don`t know how many people who rent scooters in Detroit, Lansing, Ann Arbor or other places intend to rent “electric skateboards,” but that`s the artistic term used by the legislature to include and enforce electric scooters. Kentucky allows people 16 and older to use electric scooters, and you don`t need to register or have a permit. However, the state requires all electric scooters to have a red taillight and a red headlight for night driving.
Electric scooters are legal on the street in the United States, but you can`t just jump on one without knowing and following the rules of the road. Unfortunately, the traffic rules for electric scooters are not as clear to drivers as they should be. In Montana, electric scooters are legal on public roads, but drivers must alert other road users if they want to overtake them. In addition, you can not use a scooter on the sidewalk. While people need to register if they want to ride mopeds and bicycles, electric scooters are currently exempt, in part because they are not as dangerous to drive. In addition, a scooter or skateboard without handlebars cannot be driven on a road with a speed limit of 25 mph, except for the crossing. For scooters or skateboards with handlebars, they cannot be used on roads with speed limits of 45 mph or more, except for crossing. Electric scooters are subject to the same laws in Alaska as electric bikes and mopeds. The basic restrictions state that no one should use an electric scooter over 750 watts and that 14-15 year olds need an M2 permit, while people over 16 years old need an M1 or M3 license. However, not all states limit electric scooters to sidewalks.
These include: In Kansas, people can use electric scooters on public roads, but not on sidewalks and highways. All drivers must have a valid driver`s license and helmets are recommended, but not a legal requirement. However, electric scooters are exempt from registration and license plate requirements and, for these purposes, the vehicle code states: “A motorized scooter is not a motor vehicle. Yes, many people welcome electric scooters, including teenagers, hipsters, and business leaders, and – even better – there is a wide range of scooter models to choose from. Illinois was supposed to make some changes to its e-scooter laws, but the Covid-19 pandemic has slowed down the state`s implementation. Simply put, electric scooters and bicycles are subject to the same restrictions that stipulate that people under the age of 17 must have a license. Maximum speed is one of the most commonly applied rules for electric scooters. The most common speed limit is 20 mph, which many can`t expect, as it comes from the shared scooter model, where scooters are almost universally regulated at top speeds of 10 to 15 miles per hour. All this highlights the impressive efforts that the following states have made to clarify the legal situation of electric scooters and facilitate their daily use. The following states have very clear laws regarding motorized scooters and the operation of electric scooters. Two states have currently banned electric scooters from driving on the roads.
These states are Pennsylvania and Delaware. You must drive your e-scooter on the sidewalk in these states. However, starting in 2020, drivers will again be able to use electric scooters that can ride up to 20 miles per hour on New York City roads, as long as they are over 16 and wear a helmet if they are under 18. In California, electric scooters have more explicit laws that make sense because they are so popular. Users must have a valid driver`s license, but they do not need to register an electric scooter. Drivers do not need insurance and scooters are also exempt from registration. Michigan motorcycle helmet requirements depend on your age, medical care, and riding experience. If you are under the age of 21, you are required by law to wear a helmet approved by the U.S.
Department of Transportation. New York is one of the largest electric scooter states, and much of this is due to the popularity of electric scooters in New York City. The state now regulates private scooters, so drivers must be at least 16 years old and anyone under the age of 18 must wear a helmet. According to their study, Alaska, South Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Hawaii and Nebraska have no regulations for electric scooters. In Wyoming, e-scooters don`t require a license or registration, and local authorities treat them like electric bikes and electric skateboards. Speed limits depend on the local requirements of each city. Electric scooters are therefore allowed on roads with or without bike paths as long as they ride below 25 mph. Drivers must stay close to the sidewalk and follow driving and traffic rules, such as driving on the right side of the road, looking at traffic lights and yielding to pedestrians. Pennsylvania and Delaware don`t allow electric scooters on public roads, but other states will — as long as a driver meets the speed limit.
Colorado leaves electric scooters on sidewalks as long as people travel 6 miles per hour. You can also ride on public roads if your scooter does not exceed 30 miles per hour. As you can see, Colorado`s laws are a bit more liberal than in other states. One change that was noted by a thoughtful reader is that it is illegal to drive on sidewalks in California “unless it may be necessary to enter or leave neighboring property” under the Vehicle Code § 21235(g). 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. In Louisiana, scooters were legalized in 2019. People can use them on sidewalks and on any street with a speed limit. The scooter must have a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour, and drivers must respect the speed limit at all times. Most states have a minimum age of 16, and states often require a helmet for minors under the age of 18.
Others have expanded this law to require helmet use for all ages, and even if you are not required by law to wear a helmet, it is highly recommended for your safety. Florida legalized electric scooters in 2019, but limited them to drivers as young as 16. Scooter drivers must use designated bike lanes and ride at a maximum speed of 30 miles per hour. While a majority of states explicitly state that scooters are not allowed on sidewalks, the laws of 19 states make no mention of sidewalk use. Many states consider electric scooter speeds to be too dangerous for sidewalks where pedestrians, cyclists or even scooter users themselves could be injured in an accident. 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. Do you have any legal problems regarding the use of electric scooters? Michigan is pretty strict with its electric scooter laws. If you need legal assistance, contact Lansing`s vehicle accident lawyers at the Clark Law Office. We have experienced professionals who are used to dealing with road law issues. Call us on +1 (517) 347-6900.
Indiana uses its bicycle laws to regulate electric scooters, including drivers who can use their scooters on public roads. In addition to these laws, each model of electric scooter is not allowed to weigh more than 100 pounds and travel at a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour. 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. Electric scooters have taken the U.S. by storm, especially public stock rentals operated by rental companies such as Bird, Lime, and Spin. These rentals are expressly approved by some municipal authorities. Rental electric scooters are highly regulated and have special permission to work in some states. Virginia also allows cities to continue to make electric scooters mandatory, but state laws require scooters to weigh no more than 100 pounds with a top speed of 20 miles per hour. People must be at least 14 years old and no one can use electric scooters on the highway.