21280-21282

VEHICLE CODE
SECTION 21280-21282




21280.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
   (1) This state has severe traffic congestion and air pollution
problems, particularly in its cities, and finding ways to reduce
these problems is of paramount importance.
   (2) Reducing the millions of single passenger automobile trips of
five miles or less that Californians take each year will
significantly reduce the pollution caused by fuel emissions and
aggravated by automobile congestion.
   (3) Electric personal assistive mobility devices that meet the
definition in Section 313 operate solely on electricity and employ
advances in technology to safely integrate the user in pedestrian
transportation.
   (4) Electric personal assistive mobility devices enable California
businesses, public officials, and individuals to travel farther and
carry more without the use of traditional vehicles, thereby promoting
gains in productivity, minimizing environmental impacts, and
facilitating better use of public ways.
   (b) The Legislature is adding this article as part of its program
to promote the use of no-emission transportation.



21280.5.  For purposes of this article, an electric personal
assistive mobility device is defined in Section 313.



21281.  Every electric personal assistive mobility device, or EPAMD,
shall be equipped with the following safety mechanisms:
   (a) Front, rear, and side reflectors.
   (b) A system that enables the operator to bring the device to a
controlled stop.
   (c) If the EPAMD is operated between one-half hour after sunset
and one-half hour before sunrise, a lamp emitting a white light that,
while the EPAMD is in motion, illuminates the area in front of the
operator and is visible from a distance of 300 feet in front of the
EPAMD.
   (d) A sound emitting device that can be activated from time to
time by the operator, as appropriate, to alert nearby persons.




21281.5.  (a) A person shall not operate an EPAMD on a sidewalk,
bike path, pathway, trail, bike lane, street, road, or highway at a
speed greater than is reasonable and prudent having due regard for
weather, visibility, pedestrians, and other conveyance traffic on,
and the surface, width, and condition of, the sidewalk, bike path,
pathway, trail, bike lane, street, road, or highway.
   (b) A person shall not operate an EPAMD at a speed that endangers
the safety of persons or property.
   (c) A person shall not operate an EPAMD on a sidewalk, bike path,
pathway, trail, bike lane, street, road, or highway with willful or
wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.
   (d) A person operating an EPAMD on a sidewalk, bike path, pathway,
trail, bike lane, street, road, or highway shall yield the
right-of-way to all pedestrians on foot, including persons with
disabilities using assistive devices and service animals that are
close enough to constitute a hazard.



21282.  Notwithstanding Section 21966, for the purpose of assuring
the safety of pedestrians, including seniors, persons with
disabilities, and others using sidewalks, bike paths, pathways,
trails, bike lanes, streets, roads, and highways, a city, county, or
city and county may, by ordinance, regulate the time, place, and
manner of the operation of electric personal assistive mobility
devices as defined in Section 313, and their use as a pedestrian
pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 467,
including limiting, prohibiting entirely in the local jurisdiction,
or prohibiting use in specified areas as determined to be appropriate
by local entities. State agencies may limit or prohibit the time,
place, and manner of use on state property.