§300.1.1. Electric low-speed scooters; operation; exceptions

           A.(1) Electric low-speed scooters may operate on sidewalks, bicycle paths, and highways, except that the department or any parish or municipal governing authority, or both, may limit or prohibit the operation of such scooters on any sidewalk, bicycle path, or highway under its jurisdiction if such prohibition or regulation is in the interest of safety.

           (2) A parish or municipal governing authority may reasonably regulate and assess penalties for moving or parking violations applicable to the operator of an electric low-speed scooter on any sidewalk, bicycle path, or highway under its jurisdiction.

           B. For purposes of this Section, the term "electric low-speed scooter" shall mean a rental or commercial scooter weighing less than one hundred pounds that has handlebars and an electric motor, is solely powered by an electric motor or human power, and has a maximum speed of not more than twenty miles per hour on a paved level surface when powered solely by an electric motor. An electric low-speed scooter shall not be considered a motor-driven cycle, a vehicle, or a motor vehicle.

           C. No electric low-speed scooter shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number of persons for whom it is designed and equipped.

           D. No person operating an electric low-speed scooter shall attach himself or the scooter to any other vehicle being operated upon a highway.

           E. No person operating an electric low-speed scooter on a roadway shall carry any package, bundle, or article that prevents the operator from keeping at least one hand on its handlebars.

           F.(1) Every person operating an electric low-speed scooter upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or a vehicle proceeding in the same direction, except under any of the following circumstances:

           (a) When overtaking and passing another electric low-speed scooter, bicycle, or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.

           (b) When preparing to turn or turning left at an intersection, or into a private road or driveway.

           (c) When reasonably necessary to avoid fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, substandard width lanes, or any other condition that makes it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway. For purposes of this Paragraph, a "substandard width lane" is a lane that is too narrow for an electric low-speed scooter and another electric low-speed scooter, bicycle, or a vehicle to travel safely side-by-side within the lane.

           (2) The operator of a motor vehicle, when overtaking and passing an electric low-speed scooter proceeding in the same direction on the roadway, shall exercise due care when the motor vehicle is passing the electric low-speed scooter, and shall leave a safe distance between the motor vehicle and the electric low-speed scooter of not less than three feet, and shall maintain such safe distance until safely past the overtaken electric low-speed scooter. The operator of a motor vehicle may pass an electric low-speed scooter traveling in the same direction in a no-passing zone only when it is safe to do so.

           (3) Every person operating an electric low-speed scooter upon a highway of this state shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this Chapter, except as provided in this Section or as otherwise limited or prohibited by the department or any parish or municipal governing authority, and except as to those provisions of this Chapter which by their very nature can have no application.

           G. An electric low-speed scooter shall be equipped with a brake which enables the operator to make its braked wheels skid on dry, level, and clean pavements.

           H. An electric low-speed scooter, when in use during the times specified in R.S. 32:301, shall be equipped with appropriate lights, reflectors, or reflective markings.

           I. Any operator of an electric low-speed scooter under the age of seventeen years shall wear an approved helmet as provided in R.S. 32:199.

           Added by Acts 2019, No. 258, §1, eff. July 1, 2019.