Now that some areas of Southern California are beginning to lift restrictions imposed due to COVID-19, there are more people on the roads than there have been in previous months. This includes more pedestrians, motorcycle riders, and people driving passenger vehicles, but it also includes people on e-scooters.
If you are about to embark on your own e-scooter (or a rented one), then you should be sure you know the latest laws. Keep reading to learn what they are. If you are involved in a collision with a car, a pedestrian accident, or are otherwise injured due to someone else’s negligence, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 to request a free legal consultation.
Anyone Under the Age of 18 is Required to Wear a Helmet
If you are under the age of 18, or you have kids who are, then you should know that a bike helmet is required for anyone who rides an e-scooter and is under the age of 18. The law goes further to clarify that the helmet must be fastened and must fit the user correctly. Ideally, everyone would wear a helmet because e-scooter accidents can be fatal, but only those under 18 are required to do so.
A violation of this vehicle code can lead to tickets of as much as $200. In fact, the majority of traffic tickets issued to e-scooter riders were issued for breaking the helmet laws.
You Cannot Ride an E-Scooter Anywhere You Want
You will need to know where you can and cannot ride your e-scooter. The law requires that they be ridden only on bike paths, in bike lanes, or on bikeways if possible. The law further forbids riding an e-scooter on the sidewalk. The only time you can legally have an e-scooter on the sidewalk is if you are parking it or transferring it. Violating this law can result in a $200 ticket.
A Valid License is Required to Ride an E-Scooter
You do not need a scooter-specific license to legally ride an e-scooter. In fact, a person with a valid learner’s permit can drive an e-scooter. However, you do need to have at least a learner’s permit. A person who rides on without a license can be fined.
There is a Specific Rule You Must follow to Turn Left
Yes, there is a California law that determines how you can turn left. The purpose was to prevent scooter accidents, and it requires that if you are turning left on an e-scooter, you must stop after the intersection on the right curb, dismount the scooter, and cross the street on foot. You are not legally allowed to take a motorized left turn.
If you are injured while on an e-scooter, you might have legal recourse. Contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 to request a free legal consultation and determine what your options are.
