Rep. Kinsey, who sponsored the Scooter Legalization Act, said he was aware of the dangers he pointed out for any form of motorized travel. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), a scooter that can be legally used on PA roads must generally meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) applicable to a motorcycle. The scooter must have the manufacturer`s certification label indicating that it meets FMVSS standards and have a specific certification label to operate on highways. Last year, Pittsburgh became the first city in Pennsylvania to legalize low-speed electric scooters, and as part of a two-year pilot project, electric scooters were rented for use on city streets. But not in Philadelphia – because they are illegal. Pennsylvania is one of the few states where electric scooters are still banned by law. A bill that would legalize them has been stalled in Harrisburg for nearly two years. However, Pennsylvania has been in a unique position from the beginning. Long before the rise of e-scooters and e-scooter sharing companies, the Commonwealth Department of Transport (DOT) had already banned “motorised scooters” – the definition of which included vehicles used by electric scooter sharing companies Lime and Bird: a “2-wheeled vehicle powered by an electric motor or motor that has no seat or saddle for the driver”. According to the points rules, “these vehicles cannot be used on roads or sidewalks in Pennsylvania.” Pennsylvania defines scooters as “motorized bicycles.” Scooters must not have more than 5 braking horsepower. Although similar, a major difference between scooters and mopeds is that scooters must be inspected.

To pass the inspection, the scooter must have the right equipment such as lights, signals, etc. To drive a moped on a public highway, Pennsylvania requires drivers to have a Class C driver`s license. Moped owners must also register their mopeds for a $9 fee. Once a moped is registered, an owner receives a special license plate attached to the moped. Now, a bill under consideration by the state Senate would allow some Pennsylvania cities, including Greensburg and New Kensington, to legalize and regulate electric scooters through similar pilot programs. Self-propelled wheelchairs (electric wheelchairs) or a specially designed electric mobility device used by a person with a mobility-related disability instead of walking may be used on the berm of a road. These devices are not considered vehicles within the meaning of Section 102 of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, so they are not subject to title, registration, insurance, inspection, and driver`s license laws. The operators of these devices must comply with the laws that apply to motorists and be treated by them in the same way as a pedestrian. Some Pennsylvania lawmakers recognize that electric scooters can be a useful alternative to car traffic and public transit, in addition to tax revenue.

Others remain concerned that electric scooters raise too many safety concerns. At least one bill has been introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to register low-speed electric scooters with the DMV and treat electric scooters as bicycles or electric bikes rather than motorcycles. No such law has gained popularity in the PA legislature so far. Pennsylvania`s personal injury and auto insurance laws are complex and require the help of an experienced attorney to ensure your legal rights are protected. Without a lawyer by your side, you can unknowingly settle your claim for much less than it`s actually worth. According to scooter laws, Vespas and electric scooters are not necessarily considered bicycles or motorcycles. It depends on various factors, such as potency. According to Pennsylvania traffic rules, these means of transportation can be considered a motorized bicycle or a motorized pedal bike. Classification may be considered by an accident lawyer who will handle a claim for injury related to these vehicles. Pennsylvania does not have a separate law regulating the use of electric scooters.

Instead, the PA Act considers electric scooters to be “motorized bicycles” subject to several specific requirements. Essentially, PA requires electric scooters to follow the same rules and regulations as motorcycles. This means that e-scooters must be titled and registered, have adequate insurance coverage, and meet a variety of equipment and inspection requirements. For example, motorcycles must have wings, turn signals, lights, and other devices to be considered rideable Senate Bill 892 would allow some Pennsylvania cities to determine where electric scooters could be used. Currently, electric scooters in Pennsylvania are illegal and are not classified in the state`s motor vehicle law. In Pittsburgh, only electric scooters are allowed, thanks to the pilot program that was included in last year`s budget. While many Americans are still wary of public transportation as cities come back to life, some people are turning to electric scooters to get around. The short answer is “NO” – you must have a valid Pennsylvania driver`s license to drive a motor vehicle on public or private property in that Commonwealth. Therefore, driving a scooter, moped or electric bike once your driver`s license is suspended is illegal. So don`t get trapped in the “DUI Bike” or buy an electric scooter and think you can ride it during your suspension time. This will only cause you more trouble with PennDOT and the state, as driving with a suspended driver`s license, even if you`re riding a scooter, will still result in another year or more of suspension.

Especially since we may be able to restore your full Pennsylvania license or have you drive with a limited driver`s license. Home > Faqs > Scooter Laws: Are Vespas and Electric Scooters Considered Motorcycles or Bicycles? The bill`s authors expect that if Pennsylvania legalized scooter driving, cities would draft their own laws to ensure safety. Therefore, it is important to discuss your legal options with an experienced personal injury attorney in Pennsylvania so that you are not wrongly blamed for your accident. A common question is, “Can I ride a scooter or electric bike in PENNSYLVANIA while my license suspension?” Next week, I`ll call the local townships and police departments where I`d drive him to see their opinion, but in the meantime, I`m very curious to know if anyone has legal knowledge or has talked to someone in Pennsylvania about putting scooters on the road. Later, however, it turned out that the provisions of the new Philadelphia ordinance contradicted the DOT`s total ban on e-scooters. The Commonwealth ban on any “2-wheeled vehicle powered by an electric motor or motor that does not have a seat or saddle for the pilot” exceeded local Philadelphia regulations and sent OTIS back to the drawing board for its electric scooter regulations. However, the part of the city`s ordinance that deals with the sharing of bikes without a dock will be maintained. At Solnick Lawyers, our personal injury lawyers are experienced in all types of accident cases in Pennsylvania, including those involving mopeds, electric bikes, scooters and motorcycles. We serve Jenkintown, Pennsylvania and surrounding areas.

To schedule a free consultation, call 215-481-9979 today. If you are injured in a motorcycle or scooter accident in Pennsylvania, you may be entitled to compensation in a personal injury lawsuit. Once you have received initial treatment for your injuries (which you should do as soon as possible after your accident), you should schedule a consultation with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney in Pennsylvania. These lawyers have experience in laws that affect motorcycles, e-bikes, scooters, mopeds and similar vehicles. In order for a scooter (motorized bicycle within the meaning of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code) to be legally used on the roads, it must be titled and registered in the Commonwealth and have the appropriate insurance. To be titled and registered, it must meet the AP`s equipment and inspection requirements for motorized bicycles. Electric scooters are more likely to fall under EPAMDS, which fall under a similar classification to bicycles – PA uses scooters to refer to things like Vespas and other motorized motorcycle vehicles that use non-electric propulsion. Pennsylvania law also requires motorized bicycle drivers to wear eye protection. Guests under the age of 21 must also wear a helmet. Hi everyone, I live in Pennsylvania and was about to pull the trigger on a scooter.

I assumed they were good if you followed common sense on the street. Looking more closely, it seems like there are no laws directly related to scooters, and I`m just wondering if I had one and if I was arrested when I had it on the street about what was going to happen. The barrier to scooter use in Pennsylvania depends on the wording of a particular law. As a result, most highway laws — state and local — say nothing specific about electric scooters. Scooter Share has been active in many states for years, including California, Washington, Texas, North Carolina and the District of Columbia. New York State gave them the green light in April, while Chicago and Seattle launched pilot programs to see how scooters work in their cities. Electric scooters are becoming an integral part of short-distance transportation in cities across the United States.