Full Notification

New Electrically Motorized Board Laws In Effect

As of January 1st, 2016 new laws have been put into place in California regulating “Electrically Motorized Boards” sometimes referred to as “Hoverboards.”

Per California Law an electrically motorized board shall be operated only by a person who is 16 years of age or older.

Please be familiar with these laws if you or someone you are utilizing these modes of transportation.

313.5 CVC: An “electrically motorized board” is any wheeled device that has a floorboard designed to be stood upon when riding that is not greater than 60 inches deep and 18 inches wide, is designed to transport only one person, and has an electric propulsion system averaging less than 1,000 watts, the maximum speed of which, when powered solely by a propulsion system on a paved level surface, is no more than 20 miles per hour. The device may be designed to also be powered by human propulsion.

21291 CVC: An electrically motorized board shall be operated only by a person who is 16 years of age or older.

21292 CVC: A person shall not operate an electrically motorized board upon a highway, bikeway, or any other public bicycle path, sidewalk, or trail, unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards described in Section 21212.

21293 CVC: (a) Every electrically motorized board operated upon a highway during darkness shall be equipped with all of the following: (1) Except as provided in subdivision (b), a lamp emitting a white light that, while the electrically motorized board is in motion, illuminates the highway in front of the operator and is visible from a distance of 300 feet in front of the electrically motorized board. (2) Except as provided in subdivision (c), a red reflector on the rear that is visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle. (3) Except as provided in subdivision (d), a white or yellow reflector on each side that is visible from a distance of 200 feet from the sides of the electrically motorized board. (b) A lamp or lamp combination, emitting a white light, attached to the operator and visible from a distance of 300 feet in front of the electrically motorized board, may be used in lieu of the lamp required by paragraph (1) of subdivision (a). (c) A red reflector, or reflectorizing material meeting the requirements of Section 25500, attached to the operator and visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle, may be used in lieu of the reflector required by paragraph (2) of subdivision (a). (d) A white or yellow reflector, or reflectorizing material meeting the requirements of Section 25500, attached to the operator and visible from a distance of 200 feet from the sides of the electrically motorized board, may be used in lieu of the reflector required by paragraph (3) of subdivision (a).

21294 CVC: (a) Electrically motorized boards shall only operate upon a highway designated with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less, unless the electrically motorized board is operated entirely within a designated Class II or Class IV bikeway. (b) A person shall not operate an electrically motorized board upon a highway, bikeway, or any other public bicycle path, sidewalk, or trail, at a speed in excess of 15 miles per hour. (c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a person shall not operate an electrically motorized board at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and the surface and width of the highway, bikeway, public bicycle path, sidewalk, or trail, and in no event at a speed that endangers the safety of any person or property.

21296 CVC: (a) It is unlawful for a person to operate an electrically motorized board upon a highway while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or any drug, or under the combined influence of an alcoholic beverage and any drug. (b) A person arrested for a violation of this section may request to have a chemical test made of his or her blood or breath for the purpose of determining the alcoholic or drug content of that person’s blood pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 23612, and, if so requested, the arresting officer shall have the test performed. (c) A conviction for a violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250).

21268 CVC: (a) A motorized skateboard shall not be propelled on any sidewalk, roadway, or any other part of a highway or on any bikeway, bicycle path or trail, equestrian trail, or hiking or recreational trail. (b) For purposes of this section, an electrically motorized board, as defined in Section 313.5, is not a motorized skateboard.

If you have further questions about these traffic laws, please contact Sgt. Stephen Meece at 209-599-0247 or [email protected].

PIO - Lt. Steve Merchant Ripon Police Department 259 N. Wilma Ave. Ripon, CA 95336 209-599-2102 Business [email protected]