City Council Bans Operation of Play Vehicles on Public Right
of Ways
Dec. 16, 2004
Yesterday, the Phoenix City Council approved a ban on ALL motorized skateboards
/ scooters/ and motorized play vehicles from operating on public right of
ways. This includes ALL streets and sidewalks.
Play vehicles are becoming a major safety concern as well as a quality of
life issue with residents of Phoenix. Due to the ever-changing designs by
retailers, it is difficult to adopt rules governing every type of PLAY VEHICLE.
Many retailers are advising consumers that PLAY VEHICLES are in fact OK to
operate on side streets and sidewalks and that is false.
Motorized skateboards were legal to operate on residential streets with
numerous restrictions applied, but operators rarely followed the rules and
residents were disturbed by the noise and unsafe operation. This ban will
no longer allow operation of motorized skateboards on City right of ways.
Although the ban encompasses ALL play vehicles, in actuality, motorized
skateboards are the only change; ALL other play vehicles were prohibited by
law from operating on public thoroughfares. Retailers were simply not telling
consumers about legal operation.
Sale of play vehicles is not prohibited, the new ban REQUIRES all retailers
to inform ALL consumers that play vehicles are prohibited on streets and sidewalks
and public right of ways. The retailer MUST provide a copy of such notice
before or in connection with the purchase.
Violations of any part of this new ordinance, is a civil violation with fines
up to $2500. This does include retailers who fail to comply with notification
to consumers.
In order to operate any vehicle on the streets of Phoenix, the driver must
be a licensed driver and the vehicle must have current registration and license
plates as well as current insurance. Unless a vehicle meets the Federal Motor
Vehicle Standards, registration for legal use on roadways is not available.
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