Last revised: 8/4/2021
State Law on Scooters
In General
- Officials in many cities feel they couldn't rein in Uber and Lyft. Now they're being stricter with other innovative forms of transportation (11/30/2020)
- A Template for Drafting or Amending State E-Scooter Legislation, with Alternatives and Accompanying Notes (4/14/2019)
- E-Scooter Legislation Worries Bike Advocates (4/10/2019)
- Officials in many cities feel they couldn't rein in Uber and Lyft. Now they're being stricter with other innovative forms of transportation (11/30/2020)
States that Allow E-Scooters on Public Roads, Subject to Regulation
Alabama: Statutory Details
Arizona: Statutory Details
Arkansas: Statutory Details
California: Statutory Details
Colorado: Statutory Details
Connecticut: Statutory Details
Florida: Statutory Details
Hawaii: Statutory Details
Indiana: Statutory Details
Kansas: Statutory Details
Kentucky: Statutory Details
Louisiana: Statutory Details
Maryland: Statutory Details
Minnesota: Statutory Details
Mississippi: Statutory Details
Nevada: Statutory Details
New Jersey: Statutory Details
New York: Statutory Details
Ohio: Statutory Details
Oregon: Statutory Details
Tennessee: Statutory Details
Texas: Statutory Details
Utah: Statutory Details
Virginia: Statutory Details
Washington: Statutory Details
Wisconsin: Statutory Details
Examples of States in which Current Law Effectively Bars Modern E-Scooters from Public Roads and Streets
[See generally The Grounds and Consequences of Scooters not Being "Street Legal")
- Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 1 ("Motorized scooter" defined)
- Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 1E (Motorized scooters; operation regulations)
- Motorized scooters must have brake light and turn signals
- Operator must have a license or learner’s permit
- Operator must wear a helmet
- Maximum speed is 20 m.p.h.
- No use after dark is permitted
- Regulations: 540 Mass. Code Regs. 2.00
- Motorized scooters need not be and cannot be registered
- Bills that would relax current statutory requirements have been introduced in the Massachusetts Senate and endorsed by the governor
- Gov. Baker Boosts Effort To Bring Electric Scooters Back To Mass. (1/22/2019)
- SD.1986 (Introduced by Senator Nick Collins)
- SD 2167 (Introduced by Senator Nick Collins)
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-4.01(27j) defines "moped" in terms that appear to include e-scooters. However, mopeds must be registered and be issued plates, and to be registered each must have vehicle identification number (VIN). Contemporary e-scooters lack VINs.
- They clearly fall within the definition of "motor vehicle" and cannot, therefore, be ridden without registration on public roads. Nor can they be ridden on sidewalks. N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 20-50(a), 20-160. However, if ridden on public roads they are subject to the state's DWI law. State v. Crow, 175 N.C. App. 119, 623 S.E.2d 68 (2005).
- A bill that would authorize and regulate e-scooter use has been introduced in the North Carolina House