Electric Skateboards – Florida Bicycle Law

Richard requested: I recently purchased an electric skateboard from BoostedBoards (boostedboards.com). These are electric skateboards designed as commuter boards with electric motors, 20mph speeds, and regenerative brakes. I’m perplexed by the place I’m legally allowed to journey. I reside in Pinellas County and often use the Pinellas Trail with has signs allowing EPAMDs (FL ST.NO.316.003.83/FL ST.NO>316.2068/ PCO ORD.NO.90-13(D).

Sidewalk, road, Pinellas Trail?

Answer

Sorry, none of the above. Your skateboard may solely be used on private property.

The EPAMD to which you refer is mostly known as a Segway.

s. 316.003 – Definitions

(83)Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Device

Any self-balancing, two-nontandem-wheeled system, designed to transport only one person, with an electric propulsion system with common energy of 750 watts (1 horsepower), the maximum speed of which, on a paved degree surface when powered solely by such a propulsion system whereas being ridden by an operator electric balancing scooter who weighs 170 pounds, is less than 20 miles per hour. Electric personal assistive mobility gadgets are not vehicles as outlined on this section.

The statute that you simply reference applies particularly to those devices.

s. 316.2068 – Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Devices; Regulations

(1) An electric private assistive mobility machine, as defined in s. 316.003, could also be operated:

(a) On a highway or road where the posted pace restrict is 25 miles per hour or less.

(b) On a marked bicycle path.

(c) On any street or street the place bicycles are permitted.

(d) At an intersection, to cross a street or road even when the road or avenue has a posted velocity restrict of more than 25 miles per hour.

(e) On a sidewalk, if the particular person working the gadget yields the correct-of-strategy to pedestrians and offers an audible sign before overtaking and passing a pedestrian.

(2) A valid driver license isn’t a prerequisite to operating an electric personal assistive mobility system.

(3) Electric private assistive mobility devices need not be registered and insured in accordance with s. 320.02.

(4) A person who’s underneath the age of sixteen years might not operate, experience, or in any other case be propelled on an electric private assistive mobility machine except the individual wears a bicycle helmet that is properly fitted, that is fastened securely upon his or her head by a strap, and that meets the requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z Bicycle Helmet Standards), the requirements of the Snell Memorial Foundation (1984 Standard for Protective Headgear for use in Bicycling), or some other nationally recognized requirements for bicycle helmets that are adopted by the department.

(5) A county or municipality might regulate the operation of electric private assistive mobility devices on any highway, avenue, sidewalk, or bicycle path below its jurisdiction if the governing physique of the county or municipality determines that regulation is necessary within the curiosity of safety.

(6) The Department of Transportation may prohibit the operation of electric private assistive mobility gadgets on any street below its jurisdiction if it determines that such a prohibition is necessary in the curiosity of security.

Your electric skateboard may not be used in the roadway.

s. If you have any type of concerns concerning where and ways to utilize e skateboard (ezproxy.cityu.edu.hk), you can contact us at our web-site. 316.2065 – Bicycle Regulations

(11) No person upon roller skates, or riding in or by way of any coaster, toy car, or related gadget, could go upon any roadway ….

Further, solely registered vehicles may be operated on the roadway except specifically excluded from the definition of motor vehicle.

s. 320.02 – Registration Required; Application for Registration; Forms

(1) Except as in any other case provided in this chapter, each owner or person in charge of a motor vehicle that is operated or driven on the roads of this state shall register the automobile in this state.

Your vehicle falls beneath the definition of motorcar in the statute however cannot be registered since it isn’t considered one of the desired autos accorded that designation.

s. 320.01 – Definitions, General

As used within the Florida Statutes, besides as otherwise provided, the time period:

(1)”Motor vehicle” means:

(a)An car, motorbike, truck, trailer, semitrailer, truck tractor and semitrailer combination, or another automobile operated on the roads of this state, used to transport individuals or property, and propelled by energy other than muscular power, however the term doesn’t include traction engines, highway rollers, special mobile gear as defined in s. 316.003(48), vehicles that run only upon a observe, bicycles, swamp buggies, or mopeds.

Only automobiles powered by only human power could also be used on sidewalks or bike paths except so acknowledged within the statutes.

s. 316.1995 – Driving Upon Sidewalk or Bicycle Path

(1) Except as offered in s. 316.008 or s. 316.212(8), an individual might not drive any car aside from by human energy upon a bicycle path, sidewalk, or sidewalk area, electric scooter besides upon a permanent or duly authorized temporary driveway.

(3) This part doesn’t apply to motorized wheelchairs.

Local authorities might regulate skateboard use, nevertheless, those laws may not battle with different statutes. In this case, native authorities may not permit the use of skateboards on the roads, bike paths or sidewalks since different state statutes prohibit them.