Effective December 15, 2004, the Phoenix City Council has 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.

If you have questions, please contact the Traffic Education and Safety Unit 602-534-SPEED (7733) .