BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 604
Page 1
(Without Reference to File)
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB
604 (Olsen)
As Amended September 4, 2015
Majority vote
--------------------------------------------------------------------
|ASSEMBLY: |61-8 |(May 18, 2015) |SENATE: | |(September 11, |
| | | | | |2015) |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
--------------------------------------------------------------------
(vote not available)
Original Committee Reference: TRANS.
SUMMARY: Defines "electrically motorized board," restricts
their operation on public facilities, requires boards to be
equipped with safety equipment, and authorizes cities and
counties to further regulate their use.
The Senate amendments:
AB 604
Page 2
1)Change the name of the defined vehicle to "electrically
motorized board."
2)Make it a crime to operate an electrically motorized board
while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
3)Prohibit persons under the age of 16 years old from operating
an electrically motorized board.
4)Require the use of a helmet for any person operating an
electrically motorized skateboard on public facilities.
5)Require lamps and reflectors while operating an electrically
motorized board in darkness.
6)Restrict the use of electrically motorized boards to streets
with speed limits of 35 mph or less, unless operated in a bike
lane.
7)Prohibit the operation of electrically motorized boards at
speeds greater than 15 mph.
8)Require the California Highway Patrol to submit a report to
Legislature by January 1, 2021, to assist in determining the
effect of electrically motorized boards on traffic safety.
9)Allow the Department of Transportation and local authorities
to prohibit or restrict the use of electrically motorized
boards on freeways or expressways.
10)Add provisions from AB 1096 (Chu) of the current legislative
session, to avoid chaptering out conflicts.
AB 604
Page 3
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY, this bill:
1)Defined "electrically motorized skateboard" as any
four-wheeled device that has a floorboard designed to be stood
upon when riding that is not greater than 60 inches deep and
18 inches wide, is designed to transport only one person, and
has an electric propulsion system averaging less than 1,000
watts, the maximum speed of which, when powered solely by a
propulsion system on a paved level surface, is no more than 20
miles per hour.
2)Specified that an electrically motorized skateboard may be
designed to also be powered by human propulsion.
3)Specified that an electrically motorized skateboard is not a
motorized skateboard for purposes of an existing ban on
motorized skateboards on sidewalks, roadways, highways,
bikeways, bicycle paths, bike trails, equestrian trails,
hiking trails, and recreational trails.
4)Authorized local authority to adopt rules and regulations by
ordinance or resolution prohibiting or restricting persons
from riding or propelling electrically motorized skateboards
on highways, sidewalks, or roadways.
5)Authorized a transit development board to adopt ordinances,
rules, or regulations to restrict, or specify the conditions
for, the use of electrically motorized skateboards on property
under the control of, or any portion of property used by, the
board.
6)Authorized public agencies, including, but not limited to, the
Regents of the University of California and the Trustees of
the California State University, to adopt rules or regulations
to restrict, or specify the conditions for, the use of
AB 604
Page 4
electrically motorized skateboards on public property under
the jurisdiction of that agency.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.
COMMENTS: Current law prohibits the use of motorized
skateboards in California. This prohibition dates back to 1977,
when skateboards were being equipped with loud, polluting gas
motors and had no brakes or other safety features. Newer
electrically motorized boards are difficult to distinguish from
regular skateboards while in use, are silent and produce no
emissions, and include brakes. The author believes the current
prohibition unacceptably limits the use of an otherwise safe and
environmentally clean mode of transportation.
This bill defines an electrically motorized board and authorizes
local governments and other specified entities, such as
universities on their campuses, to regulate the use of these
boards as other vehicles are regulated. This bill establishes
safety provisions, including requiring visibility equipment and
restricting usage on roadways, similar to the restrictions
placed on other vehicles, such as bicycles.
These boards do raise safety concerns with respect to their use
by children. These boards can reach speeds of up to 20 miles
per hour and, unlike bicycles, do not have handlebars or some
other steering mechanism to help the rider maintain control.
Younger children may not have the level of maturity or judgment
necessary to safely operate a motorized skateboard. This bill
limits the use of these devices to persons 16 years of age or
older and requires the user to wear a helmet, thereby enhancing
safety both for riders and for other road and sidewalk users.
The additional safety requirements in this version of this bill
were added when this bill was returned to the Senate after late
concerns were raised by the Administration.
AB 604
Page 5
Analysis Prepared by:
Justin Behrens / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093 FN:
0002317