House File 150 - Introduced



                                       HOUSE FILE       
                                       BY  KAUFMANN


    Passed House,  Date               Passed Senate, Date             
    Vote:  Ayes        Nays           Vote:  Ayes        Nays         
                 Approved                            

                                      A BILL FOR

  1 An Act relating to the regulation of electric scooters by cities
  2    and providing a penalty.
  3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
  4 TLSB 1481YH 82
  5 dea/je/5

PAG LIN



  1  1    Section 1.  Section 321.1, Code 2007, is amended by adding
  1  2 the following new subsection:
  1  3    NEW SUBSECTION.  20C.  "Electric scooter" means a tandem
  1  4 two=wheeled device that is designed to be stood upon or sat
  1  5 upon by the operator, with handlebars for steering control,
  1  6 and powered by an electric motor that is capable of propelling
  1  7 the device with or without human propulsion.  "Electric
  1  8 scooter" also means a device powered by an electric motor and
  1  9 designed with a single seat for the operator mounted on a
  1 10 three=wheeled or four=wheeled platform, with controls on a
  1 11 column positioned in front of the seat.  "Electric scooter"
  1 12 does not include a motorcycle, motorized bicycle, motor
  1 13 scooter, or all=terrain vehicle.  An electric scooter is not a
  1 14 motor vehicle for purposes of this chapter.
  1 15    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  321.246  ELECTRIC SCOOTERS ==
  1 16 OPERATION ON CITY STREETS == PENALTY.
  1 17    1.  The governing body of a city may allow and regulate the
  1 18 operation of electric scooters on city streets by persons
  1 19 possessing a valid driver's license.  An electric scooter
  1 20 operated on a city street shall be equipped with adequate
  1 21 brakes and shall meet any other safety requirements imposed by
  1 22 the governing body.  Electric scooters are not subject to the
  1 23 registration provisions of this chapter.
  1 24    2.  A person convicted of a violation of this section is
  1 25 guilty of a simple misdemeanor punishable as a scheduled
  1 26 violation under section 805.8A, subsection 3, paragraph "f".
  1 27    Sec. 3.  Section 805.8A, subsection 3, paragraph f, Code
  1 28 2007, is amended to read as follows:
  1 29    f.  For violations under sections 321.234A, 321.246,
  1 30 321.247, 321.381, and 321.381A, the scheduled fine is fifty
  1 31 dollars.
  1 32                           EXPLANATION
  1 33    This bill authorizes a city to allow and regulate the
  1 34 operation of electric scooters on streets within the city.
  1 35 The bill provides a definition of "electric scooter" that
  2  1 includes a tandem two=wheeled device stood upon or sat upon by
  2  2 the operator and controlled by means of handlebars.  The
  2  3 definition also includes a device with a single seat for the
  2  4 operator mounted on a three=wheeled or four=wheeled platform
  2  5 and facing a control column.
  2  6    The bill specifies that a person operating an electric
  2  7 scooter on city streets must be a licensed driver.  The
  2  8 electric scooter must be equipped with adequate brakes and
  2  9 meet any other safety requirements imposed by the city.
  2 10 Electric scooters are not subject to vehicle registration with
  2 11 the department of transportation.
  2 12    The bill provides that a person who violates the electric
  2 13 scooter provisions commits a simple misdemeanor punishable by
  2 14 a scheduled fine of $50.
  2 15 LSB 1481YH 82
  2 16 dea:nh/je/5