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Motorized Scooter, Bicycle, Tricycle, Skateboard, and Moped Laws
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Laws
For All States
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Laws For California
Laws For All States
Since electric scooter, bicycle, and moped laws
change from time to time we recommend visiting your state's DMV website for up
to date information. Links to all 50 states and Washington DC's DMV websites are
listed below.
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Laws For California
Electric Scooter Laws
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Electric Bicycle Laws
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Electric Moped Laws
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Electric Pocket Bike
Laws
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Electric Tricycle
and Quadricycle Laws
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Electric Skateboard Laws
Electric Scooter Laws in
California
California Electric 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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Electric Bicycle 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.
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California DMV Motorized
Bicycle
Law Links
(All DMV links open in new windows)
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MOTORIZED BICYCLE
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
For more information on California's electric bicycle laws view the:
California DMV Motorcycle Handbook 2011 |
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Electric
Moped Laws in California
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, a license plate, and
a registration card. A moped license plate and registration card costs $18.00
and never expires or needs to be re-registered.
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California DMV
Moped
Law Links
(All DMV links open in new windows)
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MOTORIZED 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
For more information on California's electric moped laws view the:
California DMV Motorcycle Handbook 2011
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Pocket Bike Laws in
California
California Pocket Bike Law
Summary:
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Pocket bikes are not allowed on public roads or public areas in
California.
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If a pocket bike is operated on a
public road or public area law enforcement may ticket the driver and impound the
pocket bike for up to 48 hours.
California Pocket Bike Laws:
California Vehicle Code Section 21720 makes it illegal to operate an
electric or gas powered 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 law requires the pocket bike manufacturer to provide a disclosure statement
to the buyer which clearly indicates where a pocket bike cannot be operated, and
it authorizes law enforcement to seize a pocket bike and hold it for 48 hours
when the operator is cited for violation of Vehicle Code Section 21720.
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California DMV Pocket Bike Law Links
(All DMV links open in new windows)
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MOTORIZED POCKET BIKE
Prohibited Use,
21720 |
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Motorized Tricycle and Quadricycle Laws in California
California Motorized
Tricycle and Quadricycle Law Summary:
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Three and four wheel mobility scooters may have motors rated up to
two horsepower, and they are allowed to travel at speeds up to 30 miles per
hours on level ground.
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This is a motorized mobility scooter law which
only applies to senior citizens and people with physical disabilities.
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California DMV Motorized Tricycle and Quadricycle Law Links
(All DMV links open in new windows)
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MOTORIZED TRICYCLE
Defined,
407
MOTORIZED QUADRICYCLE
Defined,
407 |
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Motorized Skateboard Laws in California
California Motorized
Skateboard Law Summary:
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Motorized skateboards are not allowed on public roads, sidewalks,
bike paths, or hiking trails in California.
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There was a motorized skateboard
craze that started in the mid 1970's and this law was passed because a lot of
people were riding them in the streets.
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Motorized Skateboard
Law Links
(All DMV links open in new windows)
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MOTORIZED SKATEBOARD
Prohibited Use,
21968 |
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