ELECTRIC SKATEBOARDS
House Bill 5391 (H-6) as reported from committee
Sponsor: Rep. Curtis S. VanderWall
Committee: Transportation and Infrastructure
Complete to 3-7-18 (Enacted as Public Act 204 of 2018)
SUMMARY:
House Bill 5391 would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to define and regulate the usage of electric skateboards.
Under the bill, electric skateboard would mean a wheeled device that has a floorboard designed to be stood upon when riding that is no more than 60 inches long and 18 inches wide, is designed to transport only one person at a time, has an electrical propulsion system with no more than 2,500 watts of power, and has a maximum speed on a paved level surface of not more than 25 miles per hour. An electric skateboard could be designed to be powered by human propulsion in addition to its electrical propulsion system.
The bill would specify that an electric skateboard is not a “motor vehicle” for purposes of the Vehicle Code.
Under the bill, a person riding or operating an electric skateboard upon a roadway would have the rights and duties of the driver of a vehicle under the Code, much like bicycles and electric personal mobility devices (e.g., Segways) under current law. Several requirements that currently apply to one or the other of those devices would, under the bill, also apply to electric skateboards, including yielding to pedestrians on sidewalks, being able to come to a controlled stop, not being used to carry more than one person, not riding two abreast on a roadway, not passing between lanes of traffic, and riding as near to the right side of a roadway as possible.
The bill would require a person under 19 years old to wear a crash helmet on his or her head while operating an electric skateboard, and it would prohibit a person under the age of twelve from operating an electric skateboard on a public highway or street.
An electric skateboard would have to be operated at a speed of not more than 25 miles per hour and could not be operated on a highway or street with a speed limit of more than 25 miles per hour except to cross that highway or street. An electric skateboard being operated on a roadway at night (from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise) would have to be equipped with a lamp on the front and a red reflector on the rear.
The bill would allow local units of government to regulate the use of electric skateboards in some circumstances, including in historic or central business districts or when a bicycle path is available. The Department of Natural Resources could regulate their use on DNR lands, and their use on Mackinac Island would be prohibited.
The bill would take effect 90 days after its enactment.
Proposed MCL 257.13f et al.
FISCAL IMPACT:
House Bill 5391 would have no direct fiscal impact on state or local governments.
POSITIONS:
No positions were offered on the bill.
Fiscal Analyst: Michael Cnossen
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.