Article 6 - Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Devices

California Vehicle Code — §§ 21280-21282

Sections (5)

Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 106, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2008.

(a)The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(1)This state has severe traffic congestion and air pollution problems, particularly in its cities, and finding ways to reduce these problems is of paramount importance.

(2)Reducing the millions of single passenger automobile trips of five miles or less that Californians take each year will significantly reduce the pollution caused by fuel emissions and aggravated by automobile congestion.

(3)Electric personal assistive mobility devices that meet the definition in Section 313 operate solely on electricity and employ advances in technology to safely integrate the user in pedestrian transportation.

(4)Electric personal assistive mobility devices enable California businesses, public officials, and individuals to travel farther and carry more without the use of traditional vehicles, thereby promoting gains in productivity, minimizing environmental impacts, and facilitating better use of public ways.

(b)The Legislature is adding this article as part of its program to promote the use of no-emission transportation.

§ 21280.5

Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 979, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2003. Section operative March 1, 2003, pursuant to Section 21283 (later repealed).

For purposes of this article, an electric personal assistive mobility device is defined in Section 313.

§ 21281

Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 979, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2003. Section operative March 1, 2003, pursuant to Section 21283 (later repealed).

Every electric personal assistive mobility device, or EPAMD, shall be equipped with the following safety mechanisms:

(a)Front, rear, and side reflectors.

(b)A system that enables the operator to bring the device to a controlled stop.

(c)If the EPAMD is operated between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise, a lamp emitting a white light that, while the EPAMD is in motion, illuminates the area in front of the operator and is visible from a distance of 300 feet in front of the EPAMD.

(d)A sound emitting device that can be activated from time to time by the operator, as appropriate, to alert nearby persons.

§ 21281.5

Added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 106, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2008.

(a)A person shall not operate an EPAMD on a sidewalk, bike path, pathway, trail, bike lane, street, road, or highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, pedestrians, and other conveyance traffic on, and the surface, width, and condition of, the sidewalk, bike path, pathway, trail, bike lane, street, road, or highway.

(b)A person shall not operate an EPAMD at a speed that endangers the safety of persons or property.

(c)A person shall not operate an EPAMD on a sidewalk, bike path, pathway, trail, bike lane, street, road, or highway with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.

(d)A person operating an EPAMD on a sidewalk, bike path, pathway, trail, bike lane, street, road, or highway shall yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians on foot, including persons with disabilities using assistive devices and service animals that are close enough to constitute a hazard.

§ 21282

Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 979, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2003. Section operative March 1, 2003, pursuant to Section 21283 (later repealed).

Notwithstanding Section 21966, for the purpose of assuring the safety of pedestrians, including seniors, persons with disabilities, and others using sidewalks, bike paths, pathways, trails, bike lanes, streets, roads, and highways, a city, county, or city and county may, by ordinance, regulate the time, place, and manner of the operation of electric personal assistive mobility devices as defined in Section 313, and their use as a pedestrian pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 467, including limiting, prohibiting entirely in the local jurisdiction, or prohibiting use in specified areas as determined to be appropriate by local entities. State agencies may limit or prohibit the time, place, and manner of use on state property.