What Parents Should Know About E-Scooters

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When you find out your kid is doing something illegal…and it’s all your fault!

Like many parents, my wife and I have purchased electric scooters (e-scooters) for our kids to ride around the neighborhood.  While surrounding states have laws specific to low-speed electric scooters and their usage on public roadways [NJSA 39:4-14.16; NY VTL 114-e; MD Statutes 11-117.2; DE Code 4198Q], Pennsylvania has no specific statute to address e-scooters, effectively classifying them as motor vehicles, subjecting them to the same requirements as motorcycles or similar registered vehicles.

However, since e-scooters do not meet the equipment standards (turn signals, mirrors, etc.) required for registration, they cannot be registered, titled, or insured, and thus are not permitted to be operated on public roadways.  The only lawful place that an e-scooter can be operated in Pennsylvania is private property, with the owner’s permission.

Recent legislation in Pennsylvania (House Bill 1633) has been introduced to address the framework for shared e-scooter use in larger municipalities; however, no official vote date has been scheduled.  The bill would not legalize or regulate consumer-owned e-scooters outside of shared-use programs (e.g., Bird, Lime, Spin, or Veo) but would provide the foundation for Pennsylvania to follow suit with its neighboring states on adopting specific legislation pertaining to e-scooter use on public roadways.

For now, e-scooter use in Pennsylvania should remain on private property (e.g.- driveways, parking lots, private roads/paths), as they are not legal on public roads, sidewalks, or bike paths throughout the state.