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House File 500 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to electric scooters, and providing penalties.
2BE 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 scooter” means a device
4weighing less than one hundred pounds that is equipped with
5handlebars and an electric motor, and which is solely powered
6by a rider or by an electric motor capable of propelling the
7device without additional propulsion supplied by the rider at a
8maximum speed on a paved level surface of no more than twenty
9miles per hour, or both. “Electric scooter” does not include an
10electric personal assistive mobility device, a bicycle, or any
11vehicle including any motor vehicle.
12 Sec. 2. Section 321.1, subsection 90, Code 2019, is amended
13by adding the following new paragraph:
14 NEW PARAGRAPH. e. An electric scooter.
15 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 321.235B Electric scooters.
161. A person may operate an electric scooter on highways
17with a speed limit of thirty-five miles per hour or less,
18bikeways, and sidewalks in accordance with this section. A
19person may operate an electric scooter on a highway with
20a speed limit of more than thirty-five miles per hour for
21purposes of crossing the highway if the crossing is made at an
22angle of approximately ninety degrees to the direction of the
23highway at a place where no obstruction prevents a quick and
24safe crossing, the electric scooter is brought to a complete
25stop before crossing the shoulder or traveled portion of the
26highway, the person yields the right-of-way to all oncoming
27traffic which constitutes an immediate hazard, and, if crossing
28a divided highway, the crossing is made only at an intersection
29of such highway with another highway.
302. A person operating an electric scooter on a highway is
31subject to the provisions of this chapter applicable to a rider
32of a bicycle on a highway and has all the rights and duties
33under this chapter applicable to a rider of a bicycle, except
34those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can
35have no application, or except as otherwise provided in this
-1-1section. Any ordinance adopted by a local authority applicable
2to bicycles shall apply to electric scooters, except to the
3extent such an ordinance conflicts with this section.
43. Except for provisions of the Code made specifically
5applicable to electric scooters in this section, electric
6scooters are not subject to provisions of the Code applicable
7to vehicles, including provisions relating to all of the
8following:
9a. Licensure, registration, titling, inspection, and proof
10of financial liability coverage.
11b. Possession of a driver’s license or permit.
12c. The rental of motor vehicles.
134. A person operating an electric scooter on a bikeway or
14sidewalk shall do all of the following:
15a. Yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and human-powered
16devices.
17b. Give an audible signal before overtaking and passing a
18pedestrian or human-powered device.
195. An electric scooter shall, at the times specified
20in section 321.384, be equipped with lamps meeting the
21requirements of bicycle lamps under section 321.397. This
22subsection shall not be construed to authorize the use of a red
23reflector in lieu of a rear lamp.
246. A person may park an electric scooter at any location
25where parking a bicycle is allowed. However, by parking an
26electric scooter, a person shall not impede the normal or
27reasonable movement of pedestrian or other traffic.
287. A person convicted of a violation of this section is
29guilty of a simple misdemeanor punishable as a scheduled
30violation under section 805.8A, subsection 9A.
31 Sec. 4. Section 805.8A, subsection 9A, Code 2019, is amended
32to read as follows:
339A. Electric personal assistive mobility device
34violations. For electric device violations under section
35321.235A the following sections, the scheduled fine is fifteen
-2-1dollars. as follows:
2a. Section 321.235A$15.
3b. Section 321.235B$15.
4EXPLANATION
5The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
6the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
7This bill regulates the operation of electric scooters, as
8defined in the bill. The bill excludes electric scooters from
9the definition of “vehicle” under Code section 321.1, thereby
10making the provisions of Code chapter 321 (motor vehicles
11and law of the road) relating to vehicles, motor vehicles,
12automobiles, and cars inapplicable to electric scooters.
13The bill authorizes a person to operate an electric scooter
14on highways with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less,
15bikeways, and sidewalks. The bill specifies that a person may
16operate an electric scooter on a highway with a speed limit
17of more than 35 miles per hour for purposes of crossing the
18highway if the crossing is made at an angle of approximately
1990 degrees to the direction of the highway at a place where no
20obstruction prevents a quick and safe crossing, the electric
21scooter is brought to a complete stop before crossing the
22shoulder or traveled portion of the highway, the person yields
23the right-of-way to all oncoming traffic which constitutes
24an immediate hazard, and, if crossing a divided highway, the
25crossing is made only at an intersection of such highway with
26another highway.
27The bill provides that a person operating an electric
28scooter on a highway is subject to the provisions of Code
29chapter 321 applicable to a rider of a bicycle on a highway and
30has all the rights and duties under Code chapter 321 applicable
31to a rider of a bicycle, except those provisions which by their
32nature can have no application, or except as otherwise provided
33in the bill. Under Code section 321.234, a person riding a
34bicycle on a highway is subject to the provisions of Code
35chapter 321 and has all the rights and duties applicable to a
-3-1driver of a vehicle, except those provisions which by their
2nature can have no application. Code section 321.194 also
3prohibits a person from using a bicycle on a highway to carry
4more persons at one time than the number of persons for which
5the bicycle is designed and equipped. Code section 321.281
6prohibits a person operating a motor vehicle from steering the
7motor vehicle unreasonably close to or toward a person riding
8a bicycle on a highway, including the roadway or the shoulder
9adjacent to the roadway, and prohibits a person from knowingly
10projecting any object or substance at or against a person
11riding a bicycle on a highway. Code section 321.434 prohibits
12a bicycle from being equipped with, and a person from using
13upon a bicycle, any siren or whistle.
14Under the bill, any ordinance adopted by a local authority
15applicable to bicycles applies to electric scooters, except to
16the extent such an ordinance conflicts with the bill.
17The bill provides that except for provisions of the Code
18made specifically applicable to electric scooters in the
19bill, electric scooters are not subject to provisions of the
20Code applicable to vehicles, including provisions relating
21to licensure, registration, titling, inspection, proof of
22financial liability coverage, possession of a driver’s license
23or permit, and the rental of motor vehicles.
24The bill requires a person operating an electric scooter on
25a bikeway or sidewalk to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians
26and human-powered devices, and to give an audible signal before
27overtaking and passing a pedestrian or human-powered device.
28The bill requires an electric scooter to, at the times
29specified in Code section 321.384, be equipped with lamps
30meeting the requirements of bicycle lamps under Code section
31321.397. The times specified in Code section 321.384 include
32any time from sunset to sunrise, and at such other times
33when conditions such as fog, snow, sleet, or rain provide
34insufficient lighting to render clearly discernible persons and
35vehicles on the highway at a distance of 500 feet ahead. Code
-4-1section 321.397 requires front bicycle lamps to exhibit a white
2light visible from a distance of at least 300 feet to the front
3and rear bicycle lamps to exhibit a red light visible from a
4distance of 300 feet to the rear. The bill does not authorize
5the use of a red reflector in lieu of a rear lamp.
6The bill allows a person to park an electric scooter at any
7location where parking a bicycle is allowed. However, the
8bill provides that by parking an electric scooter, a person is
9prohibited from impeding the normal or reasonable movement of
10pedestrian or other traffic.
11A violation of the bill is punishable by a scheduled fine of
12$15.
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2BE 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 scooter” means a device
4weighing less than one hundred pounds that is equipped with
5handlebars and an electric motor, and which is solely powered
6by a rider or by an electric motor capable of propelling the
7device without additional propulsion supplied by the rider at a
8maximum speed on a paved level surface of no more than twenty
9miles per hour, or both. “Electric scooter” does not include an
10electric personal assistive mobility device, a bicycle, or any
11vehicle including any motor vehicle.
12 Sec. 2. Section 321.1, subsection 90, Code 2019, is amended
13by adding the following new paragraph:
14 NEW PARAGRAPH. e. An electric scooter.
15 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 321.235B Electric scooters.
161. A person may operate an electric scooter on highways
17with a speed limit of thirty-five miles per hour or less,
18bikeways, and sidewalks in accordance with this section. A
19person may operate an electric scooter on a highway with
20a speed limit of more than thirty-five miles per hour for
21purposes of crossing the highway if the crossing is made at an
22angle of approximately ninety degrees to the direction of the
23highway at a place where no obstruction prevents a quick and
24safe crossing, the electric scooter is brought to a complete
25stop before crossing the shoulder or traveled portion of the
26highway, the person yields the right-of-way to all oncoming
27traffic which constitutes an immediate hazard, and, if crossing
28a divided highway, the crossing is made only at an intersection
29of such highway with another highway.
302. A person operating an electric scooter on a highway is
31subject to the provisions of this chapter applicable to a rider
32of a bicycle on a highway and has all the rights and duties
33under this chapter applicable to a rider of a bicycle, except
34those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can
35have no application, or except as otherwise provided in this
-1-1section. Any ordinance adopted by a local authority applicable
2to bicycles shall apply to electric scooters, except to the
3extent such an ordinance conflicts with this section.
43. Except for provisions of the Code made specifically
5applicable to electric scooters in this section, electric
6scooters are not subject to provisions of the Code applicable
7to vehicles, including provisions relating to all of the
8following:
9a. Licensure, registration, titling, inspection, and proof
10of financial liability coverage.
11b. Possession of a driver’s license or permit.
12c. The rental of motor vehicles.
134. A person operating an electric scooter on a bikeway or
14sidewalk shall do all of the following:
15a. Yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and human-powered
16devices.
17b. Give an audible signal before overtaking and passing a
18pedestrian or human-powered device.
195. An electric scooter shall, at the times specified
20in section 321.384, be equipped with lamps meeting the
21requirements of bicycle lamps under section 321.397. This
22subsection shall not be construed to authorize the use of a red
23reflector in lieu of a rear lamp.
246. A person may park an electric scooter at any location
25where parking a bicycle is allowed. However, by parking an
26electric scooter, a person shall not impede the normal or
27reasonable movement of pedestrian or other traffic.
287. A person convicted of a violation of this section is
29guilty of a simple misdemeanor punishable as a scheduled
30violation under section 805.8A, subsection 9A.
31 Sec. 4. Section 805.8A, subsection 9A, Code 2019, is amended
32to read as follows:
339A. Electric personal assistive mobility device
34violations. For electric device violations under section
35321.235A the following sections, the scheduled fine is fifteen
-2-1dollars. as follows:
2a. Section 321.235A$15.
3b. Section 321.235B$15.
4EXPLANATION
5The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
6the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
7This bill regulates the operation of electric scooters, as
8defined in the bill. The bill excludes electric scooters from
9the definition of “vehicle” under Code section 321.1, thereby
10making the provisions of Code chapter 321 (motor vehicles
11and law of the road) relating to vehicles, motor vehicles,
12automobiles, and cars inapplicable to electric scooters.
13The bill authorizes a person to operate an electric scooter
14on highways with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less,
15bikeways, and sidewalks. The bill specifies that a person may
16operate an electric scooter on a highway with a speed limit
17of more than 35 miles per hour for purposes of crossing the
18highway if the crossing is made at an angle of approximately
1990 degrees to the direction of the highway at a place where no
20obstruction prevents a quick and safe crossing, the electric
21scooter is brought to a complete stop before crossing the
22shoulder or traveled portion of the highway, the person yields
23the right-of-way to all oncoming traffic which constitutes
24an immediate hazard, and, if crossing a divided highway, the
25crossing is made only at an intersection of such highway with
26another highway.
27The bill provides that a person operating an electric
28scooter on a highway is subject to the provisions of Code
29chapter 321 applicable to a rider of a bicycle on a highway and
30has all the rights and duties under Code chapter 321 applicable
31to a rider of a bicycle, except those provisions which by their
32nature can have no application, or except as otherwise provided
33in the bill. Under Code section 321.234, a person riding a
34bicycle on a highway is subject to the provisions of Code
35chapter 321 and has all the rights and duties applicable to a
-3-1driver of a vehicle, except those provisions which by their
2nature can have no application. Code section 321.194 also
3prohibits a person from using a bicycle on a highway to carry
4more persons at one time than the number of persons for which
5the bicycle is designed and equipped. Code section 321.281
6prohibits a person operating a motor vehicle from steering the
7motor vehicle unreasonably close to or toward a person riding
8a bicycle on a highway, including the roadway or the shoulder
9adjacent to the roadway, and prohibits a person from knowingly
10projecting any object or substance at or against a person
11riding a bicycle on a highway. Code section 321.434 prohibits
12a bicycle from being equipped with, and a person from using
13upon a bicycle, any siren or whistle.
14Under the bill, any ordinance adopted by a local authority
15applicable to bicycles applies to electric scooters, except to
16the extent such an ordinance conflicts with the bill.
17The bill provides that except for provisions of the Code
18made specifically applicable to electric scooters in the
19bill, electric scooters are not subject to provisions of the
20Code applicable to vehicles, including provisions relating
21to licensure, registration, titling, inspection, proof of
22financial liability coverage, possession of a driver’s license
23or permit, and the rental of motor vehicles.
24The bill requires a person operating an electric scooter on
25a bikeway or sidewalk to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians
26and human-powered devices, and to give an audible signal before
27overtaking and passing a pedestrian or human-powered device.
28The bill requires an electric scooter to, at the times
29specified in Code section 321.384, be equipped with lamps
30meeting the requirements of bicycle lamps under Code section
31321.397. The times specified in Code section 321.384 include
32any time from sunset to sunrise, and at such other times
33when conditions such as fog, snow, sleet, or rain provide
34insufficient lighting to render clearly discernible persons and
35vehicles on the highway at a distance of 500 feet ahead. Code
-4-1section 321.397 requires front bicycle lamps to exhibit a white
2light visible from a distance of at least 300 feet to the front
3and rear bicycle lamps to exhibit a red light visible from a
4distance of 300 feet to the rear. The bill does not authorize
5the use of a red reflector in lieu of a rear lamp.
6The bill allows a person to park an electric scooter at any
7location where parking a bicycle is allowed. However, the
8bill provides that by parking an electric scooter, a person is
9prohibited from impeding the normal or reasonable movement of
10pedestrian or other traffic.
11A violation of the bill is punishable by a scheduled fine of
12$15.
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