Bill Summary for S 620 (2019-2020)

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Summary date: 

Apr 8 2019

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2019-2020 Session
Senate Bill 620 (Public) Filed Wednesday, April 3, 2019
AN ACT TO DEFINE AND AUTHORIZE THE USE OF ELECTRIC STANDUP SCOOTERS.
Intro. by McKissick, Newton.

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Bill summary

Adds electronic standup scooter to the defined terms in GS 20-4.01. Excludes electronic standup scooters from the defined terms motor vehicle and moped (passenger vehicle), but deems an electronic standup scooter a vehicle for purposes of GS Chapter 20 that are applicable to a driver of a vehicle. Makes organizational changes. 

Amends GS 20-51, exempting electronic standup scooters from the requirement of registration and certificate of title. 

Excludes electronic standup scooters from the term motor vehicle as used in GS Chapter 58 (Insurance).

Enacts Part 11D of Article 3, GS Chapter 20. Makes electric standup scooters subject to all provisions of GS Chapter 20 that apply to bicycles and makes operators subject the rights and duties of a bicycle rider. Allows scooters to be parked on a sidewalk, requires that they be equipped with a brake and lamps, and prohibits operation of a scooter at more than 15 miles per hour. Must be 16 or older to operate a scooter. Allows a local authority to to regulate the operation of scooters by (1) restricting the maximum operating speed in pedestrian zones and (2) assessing penalties against operators for moving or parking violations, which must not exceed those against bicycle riders for equivalent violations. Allows local authorities to regulate scooter-share programs in the following ways: (1) requiring operators to pay fees, not to exceed reasonable costs to local authorities of administering the programs; (2) requiring operators to indemnify the local authority for claims, demands, costs, and losses or damages arising out of any negligent act, error, omission, or willful misconduct by the operator or its officers or employees; (3) designating locations where operators are prohibited from staging shared scooters, provided at least one location is on each side of each city block in commercial zones and business districts. Defines scooter-share operator as a person offering shared scooters for hire and requires the operator to carry insurance coverage in the specified amounts according to insurance type. 

Allows a local authority to require a scooter-share operator to provide trip data for all trips starting or ending within the local authority's jurisdiction; sets out requirements governing such data, including privacy provisions. 

Prohibits local authorities from imposing any unduly restrictive requirement on a scooter-share program.