There seems to be some confusion in the community as to what the recently passed California law is on electric skateboards. So I will break it down in great detail and give you commentary on it so we are all on the same page.
First, you need to understand one thing: “electrically motorized boards” and “motorized skateboards” are 2 different things in law. California already has laws dating back to the late 70’s that ban motorized skateboards. Prior to this law, there was no definition of electrically motorized boards, so all electric skateboards were motorized skateboards. If you don’t pay attention to this difference, the law becomes confusing.
Just remember, “electrically motorized boards” do not equal “motorized skateboards”, they have 2 different definitions.
This bill would provide that an electrically motorized board is not a motorized skateboard for those purposes.
So to start off the bill:
This bill would define the term “electrically motorized board.”
Self explanatory. So lets keep going…
The bill would prohibit the operation of an electrically motorized board upon a highway while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or any drug
So don’t don’t drugs and ride your electric skateboard
The bill would require the operator of an electrically motorized board to wear a helmet while operating an electrically motorized board upon a highway, bikeway, or any other public bicycle path, sidewalk, or trail.
So you must wear a helmet while riding an electric skateboard.
The bill would require an operator to be at least 16 years of age in order to operate an electrically motorized board
So you can’t ride legally if your not at least 16 years old.
The bill would also require electrically motorized boards to be equipped with safety equipment, as specified, and restrict the operation speed of electrically motorized boards
We will jump into what these safety equipment are, but it’s white headlights, read tail reflectors, and orange side reflectors, If operating at night.
Moreover, this last part, says this law limits the operation speed of electric skateboards. They do this by limiting the definition of electrically motorized skateboards to 20 mph, and leave anything higher defined as a motorized skateboard, which is still illegal. But I’ll show you more on this in a bit.
Existing law makes it a crime to operate a motorized skateboard 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.
This bill would provide that an electrically motorized board is not a motorized skateboard for those purposes.
So were getting into the meaning of this bill. It’s to separate the definition of a “electrically motorized board” from a “motorized skateboard”
So let’s get to the definition of an “electrically motorized board” then…
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.
So to meet the legal definition of an “electrically motorized board”, your board can’t run at more than an average of 1000 watts, or be capable of more than 20 mph.
If you don’t meet this definition, your board is still classified as a motorized skateboard, which this law re-affirms is illegal…
(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.
So there is is, in black and white. If your board is capable of more than 20 mph, your board doesn’t meet the definition of an “electrically motorized board”, which means you board is a “motorized skateboard”, which this law reaffirms is illegal to ride basically any wheres in public.
Lets add a few more tid bits from this law, just so everyone’s aware of the other details defined in the law.
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.
In this law (and I believe laws in general), “freeways” and “expressways” are what we normally call “highways”. And “highways” are really just normal roads.
So here, it says you can only ride on roads with a 35 mph or less speed limit.
This bill would authorize the Department of Transportation and local authorities to also prohibit or restrict the use of electrically motorized boards upon freeways or expressways.
So don’t ride your boards on the highway basically.
Here’s the next crazy part that actually limits operating speed beyond the “electrically motorized board” definition.
(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.
So basically, you can’t ride at a speed higher than 15 mph any wheres in public. It’s also vague, in saying that even if your going say 14 mph, a cop can still pull you over for speeding if he deems it was too fast to be safe given the particular situation.
Remember I said about “Required Safety Equipment” above? Well, here is the required safety equipment…
(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 headlamps 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 headlamps 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).
So lets break this down…
If you ride in the dark, you need to either use:
-
A white headlight that is visible from 300 ft or more, a red reflector on the back which is visible from 500 ft or more, and a yellow or white reflector on each side (left and right) of your board that is visible from 300 ft or more
-
The same requirements, but attached to you, the operator, instead of the board.
So here it is. I’ve tried to find the 1976 law which defines what a motorized skateboard is, but it doesn’t seem to be searchable on the internet. If anyone can find it, feel free to post it so I can add that information here.
If you want to read the text in it’s entirety, here it is: AB-604 Law
The reason I’m posting this is there seems to be some confusion out there as to what this law means for us builders and riders. Most of this law is legal garbage that we don’t care about, so you have to either spends hours (like I have) reading the entire law to find the useful pieces, or now, you can read this post.
While everyone in the media is celebrating this law, they are too ignorant to realize many of the biggest commercial boards are still illegal (including boosted and evolve). This law was crafted by Z-Board, which surprise surprise, has a top speed of 18 mph. So their boards are now legal, while most of their competitors are still illegal. Nice job rigging the industry in your favor guys…
So to sum it up: Your electric skateboard is illegal if you can go faster than 20 mph on it (this includes boosted and the evovle CGT). If you can’t go faster than 20 mph, your board is legal as long as you follow these regulations:
- You can’t ride high or dunk (duh)
- You must wear a helmet
- You must be 16 years or older
- You can only ride on roads of 35 mph or less
- You can’t ride on highways
- You can’t ride on public property at speeds higher than 15 mph
- For nighttime riding, you must use a white headlight, orange side reflectors (on both sides), and a red reflector on the back.
…which in turn makes the dreaded draconian law…a lawless piece of text not even the cops care or know anything about its existence. Is not a law, when the law was written by a company with its own commercial interest. Their interest, to wipe out their competitors …no to help and protect the community. In others words: democracy down the drain and monopoly practices.