Electric scooters have been in the news quite a bit in recent years. This is because they are a newer form of transportation that has become popular, but also because there have been quite a few reported accidents involving them. Many people and government officials in various cities feel they are dangerous and need to be off the streets before more people get hurt. In North Carolina, there is no ban currently, but that does not mean there will never be a ban.
The Huffington Post explains, 10 states have specific laws about electric scooters and there is the potential for many more to jump on the bandwagon in the coming months. Most of the laws on the books are to prevent accidents and promote safety. Some ban these scooters from public areas completely.
For example, Colorado limits its use to only sidewalks and other pedestrian areas. They are not allowed to be on roadways. Minnesota is the opposite. They cannot be on sidewalks, only on roadways. In Texas and Virginia, they are restricted based on the speed limit of a road. In Virginia, you can only ride them on roads with speed limits 25 mph or less, and Texas says you can ride them on roads with speed limits 35 mph or less.
Some cities have seen serious accidents. In Washington D.C., a rider was killed after an accident with a motor vehicle, prompting lawmakers to take a closer look at scooter safety. There have been various accidents when children or others have suffered injuries when they were not the rider of the scooter. The goal of such laws is to protect everyone, not just the scooter rider. This information is for education and is not legal advice.
