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Motorized Scooter, Bicycle, Tricycle, Skateboard, And Moped Laws
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Since electric
scooter and bike laws change from time to time we suggest visiting your
state's DMV website. Links to all 50 states
and Washington DC's DMV websites are listed
below.
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New
Electric Scooter Laws For California
New 2006 California Pocket Bike Law:
New 2006 California Vehicle Code §21720 makes it illegal to
operate a pocket bike on a sidewalk, roadway, or any other part of a
highway, or on a bikeway, bicycle path or trail, equestrian trail,
hiking or recreational trail, or on public lands open to off-highway
motor vehicle use. This new law requires the manufacturer to provide a
disclosure statement to the buyer which clearly indicates where a pocket
bike cannot be operated and authorizes law enforcement to seize a pocket
bike and hold it for 48 hours when the operator is cited for violation
of Vehicle Code §21720.
New 2005 California Scooter Laws:
A
California driver's license or learner's permit is now required to
operate motorized scooters on public roads. Formerly no driver's
license or learner's permit was required to operate on public roads.
Also gas scooter modifications that increase the decibel level or
exhaust emissions of the scooter's motor are banned by the new scooter
law. This law change does not address pocket bikes which are regulated
under current motorcycle laws.
California Scooter Law Summary:
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A driver's license or learners
permit is required
to drive an electric scooter.
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No insurance, registration or
license plates are required.
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Driver must wear a bicycle helmet.
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Drive shall not operate motorized
scooter in excesses of 15 mph.
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Driver shall not operate on public
road with a speed limit of 25 mph or more, unless it is operated in
a bike lane.
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Driver to operate on right side of
the roadway and next to the curb when feasible. When intending to
move left at an intersection, they must walk their scooter in a
crosswalk when crossing roadway.
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Driver must operate in a designated
bike lane when one is available.
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Driver must not ride on any
sidewalk except to leave or enter adjacent property.
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Driver shall not leave scooter on
path or sidewalk.
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Driver shall not hitch scooter onto
another vehicle in motion.
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Driver shall not have passengers.
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Driver can be on bike path or trail
unless prohibited by local ordinance.
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Driver must have at least one hand
on handlebars.
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Equipment requirements during hours
of darkness:
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White headlight to the front
visible from 300 feet both to the front and sides.
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A red reflector on the rear of the
device, visible from 500 feet.
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White or yellow reflector on each
side visible from the front and rear of the device from 200 feet.
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A white lamp or white lamp
combination, attached to the operator and visible from 300 feet in
front and from the sides of the motorized scooter.
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Handlebars must not exceed
shoulders of the rider.
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Scooter must have an engine/motor
kill switch that activates when released or when the brakes are
applied.
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Scooter must have a working brake.
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California DMV
Motorized Scooter Law Links
(All DMV links open in
new windows)
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MOTORIZED SCOOTER
Defined,
21220.5,
21224
Driving under the influence,
21221.5
Equipment,
21223
Legislative intent,
21220
Local regulations,
21225
Maximum speed,
22411
Operation requirements and prohibitions,
21227,
21228,
21229,
21230,
21235 |
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Motorized bicycle/moped, tricycle, quadricycle and skateboard laws in California.
California Electric
Bicycle Law Summary:
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A driver's license is not required
to drive an electric bicycle.
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No insurance, registration or
license plates are required.
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Driver shall not operate a
motorized bicycle if under 16 years of age.
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Driver must wear a bicycle helmet.
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Bicycle must have fully operative
pedals.
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Power output must not be more than 1000
Watt.
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On level ground must not travel faster
than 20mph on motors power only.
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Electric motor must disengage when
brakes are applied or when throttle is released.
California Moped Law Summary:
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A driver's license or learners
permit is required
to drive a moped.
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No insurance
or
yearly
registration are required.
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Driver must wear a DOT approved
motorcycle helmet.
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An electric moped is not required to
have pedals.
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On level ground must not travel faster
than 30mph on motors power only.
In California operating a
moped on public roads requires a drivers license or learning permit,
license plate, and registration card. A moped license plate and
registration card costs $6.00 and never expires or needs to be
re-registered.
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California DMV Motorized
Bicycle/Moped, Tricycle, Quadricycle, Skateboard
and Law Links
(All DMV links open in
new windows)
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MOTORIZED BICYCLE/MOPED
Bike trails,
21207.5
Crossing at grade,
12509
Darkness, operation during,
12509
Dealer plates,
5034
Defined,
406
Equestrian trails,
21207.5
Equipment requirements,
24015
Fees,
5036
Freeways, operation on,
21960
Helmet,
27802
Instruction permit,
12509
License plates for,
5030-5039
Licensing requirements,
5030-5039
Lights,
21201.3
Modified,
23135
Passengers,
12509,
27800
Recreational trails,
21207.5
Registration exemption,
4020
Safety and equipment requirements,
24016
Vehicular crossings, on,
23330
MOTORIZED TRICYCLE
Defined,
407
MOTORIZED QUADRICYCLE
Defined,
407
MOTORIZED SKATEBOARDS
Prohibitions,
21968
For more information on
California's electric bicycle and moped laws view
the:
California DMV Motorcycle Handbook
2006 |
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