Motorized Scooter Rules and Regulations
Love them or hate them motorized scooters are here to stay. In what seems like a blink of an eye these scooters have quickly become a part of many popular beach cities throughout California.
They offer quick easy transportation without the hassle of looking for a parking spot or having to lock them up. You just park and go, simple and stress-free. These are the upside of using these new transportation devices. With such advantages comes the need for new laws to help ensure safety for all beachgoers and pedestrians.
California Vehicle Code Challenges
The California Vehicle Code (CVC) has had a hard time drafting laws to adapt to the sudden surge of scooters flooding local municipalities. A recent addition to the Vehicle Code is Section 21235 which addresses how and where a scooter can be ridden.
Here are some of the new rules put into place for 2019:
( Article 5 added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 722, Sec. 5. )
21235.
The operator of a motorized scooter shall not do any of the following:
(a) Operate a motorized scooter unless it is equipped with a brake that will enable the operator to make a braked wheel skid on dry, level, clean pavement.
(b) Operate a motorized scooter on a highway with a speed limit in excess of 25 miles per hour unless the motorized scooter is operated within a Class II or Class IV bikeway, except that a local authority may, by ordinance or resolution, authorize the operation of a motorized scooter outside of a Class II or Class IV bikeway on a highway with a speed limit of up to 35 miles per hour. The 15 mile per hour maximum speed limit for the operation of a motorized scooter specified in Section 22411 applies to the operation of a motorized scooter on all highways, including bikeways, regardless of a higher speed limit applicable to the highway.
(c) Operate a motorized scooter without wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards described in Section 21212, if the operator is under 18 years of age.
(d) Operate a motorized scooter without a valid driver’s license or instruction permit.
(e) Operate a motorized scooter with any passengers in addition to the operator.
(f) Operate a motorized scooter carrying any package, bundle, or article that prevents the operator from keeping at least one hand upon the handlebars.
(g) Operate a motorized scooter upon a sidewalk, except as may be necessary to enter or leave adjacent property.
(h) Operate a motorized scooter on the highway with the handlebars raised so that the operator must elevate his or her hands above the level of his or her shoulders in order to grasp the normal steering grip area.
(i) Leave a motorized scooter lying on its side on any sidewalk, or park a motorized scooter on a sidewalk in any other position, so that there is not an adequate path for pedestrian traffic.
(j) Attach the motorized scooter or himself or herself while on the roadway, by any means, to any other vehicle on the roadway.
What Should I Do Next?
These new rules are still being decided in the court system, if you received a violation for CVC 21235 give us a call and we can discuss your options and how the vehicle code may or may not apply to your unique situation. As always ride safely and make sure you are always conscious of your surroundings while cruising the streets.