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Senate Study Bill 1024 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to electric standup scooters, and providing
2penalties.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 321.1, Code 2019, is amended by adding
2the following new subsection:
3 NEW SUBSECTION. 20C. “Electric standup scooter” means any
4device weighing less than one hundred pounds that is equipped
5with two or three wheels, handlebars, and a floorboard capable
6of supporting a standing rider, and which is solely powered by
7the rider or by an electric motor capable of propelling the
8device, with or without additional propulsion supplied by the
9rider, at a maximum speed on a paved level surface of no more
10than twenty miles per hour, or both.
11 Sec. 2. Section 321.1, subsection 90, Code 2019, is amended
12by adding the following new paragraph:
13 NEW PARAGRAPH. e. An electric standup scooter.
14 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 321.235B Electric standup scooters.
151. A person may operate an electric standup scooter on
16highways, bikeways, and sidewalks in accordance with this
17section.
182. A person operating an electric standup scooter on a
19highway is subject to the provisions of this chapter applicable
20to a rider of a bicycle on a highway and has all the rights and
21duties under this chapter applicable to a rider of a bicycle,
22except those provisions of this chapter which by their nature
23can have no application, or except as otherwise provided in
24this section.
253. Except for provisions of the Code made specifically
26applicable to electric standup scooters in this section,
27electric standup scooters are not subject to provisions of the
28Code applicable to vehicles, including provisions relating to
29all of the following:
30a. Licensure, registration, titling, inspection, and proof
31of financial liability coverage.
32b. Possession of a driver’s license or permit.
33c. The rental of motor vehicles.
344. A person operating an electric standup scooter on a
35bikeway or sidewalk shall do all of the following:
-1- 1a. Yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and human-powered
2devices.
3b. Give an audible signal before overtaking and passing a
4pedestrian or human-powered device.
55. An electric standup scooter shall, at the times specified
6in section 321.384, be equipped with lamps or reflectors as
7required for bicycles under section 321.397.
86. A person may park an electric standup scooter at any
9location where parking a bicycle is allowed. However, by
10parking an electric standup scooter, a person shall not impede
11the normal or reasonable movement of pedestrian or other
12traffic.
137. A person convicted of a violation of this section is
14guilty of a simple misdemeanor punishable as a scheduled
15violation under section 805.8A, subsection 9A.
16 Sec. 4. Section 805.8A, subsection 9A, Code 2019, is amended
17to read as follows:
189A. Electric personal assistive mobility device
19violations. For electric device violations under section
20321.235A the following sections, the scheduled fine is fifteen
21dollars. as follows:
22a. Section 321.235A$15.
23b. Section 321.235B$15.
24EXPLANATION
25The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
26the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
27This bill regulates the operation of electric standup
28scooters. The bill defines “electric standup scooter” to mean
29any device weighing less than 100 pounds that is equipped with
30two or three wheels, handlebars, and a floorboard capable of
31supporting a standing rider, and which is solely powered by
32the rider or by an electric motor capable of propelling the
33device, with or without additional propulsion supplied by the
34rider, at a maximum speed on a paved level surface of no more
35than 20 miles per hour, or both. The bill excludes electric
-2-1standup scooters from the definition of “vehicle” under Code
2section 321.1, thereby making the provisions of Code chapter
3321 (motor vehicles and law of the road) relating to vehicles,
4motor vehicles, automobiles, and cars inapplicable to electric
5standup scooters.
6The bill authorizes a person to operate an electric standup
7scooter on highways, bikeways, and sidewalks.
8The bill provides that a person operating an electric
9standup scooter on a highway is subject to the provisions
10of Code chapter 321 applicable to a rider of a bicycle on a
11highway and has all the rights and duties under Code chapter
12321 applicable to a rider of a bicycle, except those provisions
13which by their nature can have no application, or except as
14otherwise provided in the bill. Under Code section 321.234,
15a person riding a bicycle on a highway is subject to the
16provisions of Code chapter 321 and has all the rights and
17duties applicable to a driver of a vehicle, except those
18provisions which by their nature can have no application. Code
19section 321.194 also prohibits a person from using a bicycle on
20a highway to carry more persons at one time than the number of
21persons for which the bicycle is designed and equipped. Code
22section 321.281 prohibits a person operating a motor vehicle
23from steering the motor vehicle unreasonably close to or toward
24a person riding a bicycle on a highway, including the roadway
25or the shoulder adjacent to the roadway, and prohibits a person
26from knowingly projecting any object or substance at or against
27a person riding a bicycle on a highway. Code section 321.434
28prohibits a bicycle from being equipped with, and a person from
29using upon a bicycle, any siren or whistle.
30The bill provides that except for provisions of the Code made
31specifically applicable to electric standup scooters in the
32bill, electric standup scooters are not subject to provisions
33of the Code applicable to vehicles, including provisions
34relating to licensure, registration, titling, inspection, proof
35of financial liability coverage, possession of a driver’s
-3-1license or permit, and the rental of motor vehicles.
2The bill requires a person operating an electric standup
3scooter on a bikeway or sidewalk to yield the right-of-way
4to pedestrians and human-powered devices, and to give an
5audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian or
6human-powered device.
7The bill requires an electric standup scooter to, at the
8times specified in Code section 321.384, be equipped with lamps
9or reflectors as required for bicycles under Code section
10321.397. The times specified in Code section 321.384 include
11any time from sunset to sunrise, and at such other times
12when conditions such as fog, snow, sleet, or rain provide
13insufficient lighting to render clearly discernible persons and
14vehicles on the highway at a distance of 500 feet ahead. Code
15section 321.397 requires front bicycle lamps to exhibit a white
16light visible from a distance of at least 300 feet to the front
17and rear bicycle lamps to exhibit a red light visible from a
18distance of 300 feet to the rear. A red reflector may be used
19in lieu of a rear lamp.
20The bill allows a person to park an electric standup scooter
21at any location where parking a bicycle is allowed. However,
22the bill provides that by parking an electric standup scooter,
23a person is prohibited from impeding the normal or reasonable
24movement of pedestrian or other traffic.
25A violation of the bill is punishable by a scheduled fine of
26$15.
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2penalties.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 321.1, Code 2019, is amended by adding
2the following new subsection:
3 NEW SUBSECTION. 20C. “Electric standup scooter” means any
4device weighing less than one hundred pounds that is equipped
5with two or three wheels, handlebars, and a floorboard capable
6of supporting a standing rider, and which is solely powered by
7the rider or by an electric motor capable of propelling the
8device, with or without additional propulsion supplied by the
9rider, at a maximum speed on a paved level surface of no more
10than twenty miles per hour, or both.
11 Sec. 2. Section 321.1, subsection 90, Code 2019, is amended
12by adding the following new paragraph:
13 NEW PARAGRAPH. e. An electric standup scooter.
14 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 321.235B Electric standup scooters.
151. A person may operate an electric standup scooter on
16highways, bikeways, and sidewalks in accordance with this
17section.
182. A person operating an electric standup scooter on a
19highway is subject to the provisions of this chapter applicable
20to a rider of a bicycle on a highway and has all the rights and
21duties under this chapter applicable to a rider of a bicycle,
22except those provisions of this chapter which by their nature
23can have no application, or except as otherwise provided in
24this section.
253. Except for provisions of the Code made specifically
26applicable to electric standup scooters in this section,
27electric standup scooters are not subject to provisions of the
28Code applicable to vehicles, including provisions relating to
29all of the following:
30a. Licensure, registration, titling, inspection, and proof
31of financial liability coverage.
32b. Possession of a driver’s license or permit.
33c. The rental of motor vehicles.
344. A person operating an electric standup scooter on a
35bikeway or sidewalk shall do all of the following:
-1- 1a. Yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and human-powered
2devices.
3b. Give an audible signal before overtaking and passing a
4pedestrian or human-powered device.
55. An electric standup scooter shall, at the times specified
6in section 321.384, be equipped with lamps or reflectors as
7required for bicycles under section 321.397.
86. A person may park an electric standup scooter at any
9location where parking a bicycle is allowed. However, by
10parking an electric standup scooter, a person shall not impede
11the normal or reasonable movement of pedestrian or other
12traffic.
137. A person convicted of a violation of this section is
14guilty of a simple misdemeanor punishable as a scheduled
15violation under section 805.8A, subsection 9A.
16 Sec. 4. Section 805.8A, subsection 9A, Code 2019, is amended
17to read as follows:
189A. Electric personal assistive mobility device
19violations. For electric device violations under section
20321.235A the following sections, the scheduled fine is fifteen
21dollars. as follows:
22a. Section 321.235A$15.
23b. Section 321.235B$15.
24EXPLANATION
25The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
26the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
27This bill regulates the operation of electric standup
28scooters. The bill defines “electric standup scooter” to mean
29any device weighing less than 100 pounds that is equipped with
30two or three wheels, handlebars, and a floorboard capable of
31supporting a standing rider, and which is solely powered by
32the rider or by an electric motor capable of propelling the
33device, with or without additional propulsion supplied by the
34rider, at a maximum speed on a paved level surface of no more
35than 20 miles per hour, or both. The bill excludes electric
-2-1standup scooters from the definition of “vehicle” under Code
2section 321.1, thereby making the provisions of Code chapter
3321 (motor vehicles and law of the road) relating to vehicles,
4motor vehicles, automobiles, and cars inapplicable to electric
5standup scooters.
6The bill authorizes a person to operate an electric standup
7scooter on highways, bikeways, and sidewalks.
8The bill provides that a person operating an electric
9standup scooter on a highway is subject to the provisions
10of Code chapter 321 applicable to a rider of a bicycle on a
11highway and has all the rights and duties under Code chapter
12321 applicable to a rider of a bicycle, except those provisions
13which by their nature can have no application, or except as
14otherwise provided in the bill. Under Code section 321.234,
15a person riding a bicycle on a highway is subject to the
16provisions of Code chapter 321 and has all the rights and
17duties applicable to a driver of a vehicle, except those
18provisions which by their nature can have no application. Code
19section 321.194 also prohibits a person from using a bicycle on
20a highway to carry more persons at one time than the number of
21persons for which the bicycle is designed and equipped. Code
22section 321.281 prohibits a person operating a motor vehicle
23from steering the motor vehicle unreasonably close to or toward
24a person riding a bicycle on a highway, including the roadway
25or the shoulder adjacent to the roadway, and prohibits a person
26from knowingly projecting any object or substance at or against
27a person riding a bicycle on a highway. Code section 321.434
28prohibits a bicycle from being equipped with, and a person from
29using upon a bicycle, any siren or whistle.
30The bill provides that except for provisions of the Code made
31specifically applicable to electric standup scooters in the
32bill, electric standup scooters are not subject to provisions
33of the Code applicable to vehicles, including provisions
34relating to licensure, registration, titling, inspection, proof
35of financial liability coverage, possession of a driver’s
-3-1license or permit, and the rental of motor vehicles.
2The bill requires a person operating an electric standup
3scooter on a bikeway or sidewalk to yield the right-of-way
4to pedestrians and human-powered devices, and to give an
5audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian or
6human-powered device.
7The bill requires an electric standup scooter to, at the
8times specified in Code section 321.384, be equipped with lamps
9or reflectors as required for bicycles under Code section
10321.397. The times specified in Code section 321.384 include
11any time from sunset to sunrise, and at such other times
12when conditions such as fog, snow, sleet, or rain provide
13insufficient lighting to render clearly discernible persons and
14vehicles on the highway at a distance of 500 feet ahead. Code
15section 321.397 requires front bicycle lamps to exhibit a white
16light visible from a distance of at least 300 feet to the front
17and rear bicycle lamps to exhibit a red light visible from a
18distance of 300 feet to the rear. A red reflector may be used
19in lieu of a rear lamp.
20The bill allows a person to park an electric standup scooter
21at any location where parking a bicycle is allowed. However,
22the bill provides that by parking an electric standup scooter,
23a person is prohibited from impeding the normal or reasonable
24movement of pedestrian or other traffic.
25A violation of the bill is punishable by a scheduled fine of
26$15.
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