Bill > HB588

This bill defines and regulates motorized scooters by adding a new definition to Montana's transportation laws and amending several existing statutes to include motorized scooters alongside bicycles and mopeds. The bill defines a motorized scooter as a vehicle without a seat that can be propelled by muscular power or an independent power source, with a maximum speed of 30 miles per hour. The legislation extends existing traffic regulations to motorized scooters, requiring riders to follow the same rules as other vehicle operators, such as yielding to pedestrians, using appropriate lighting at dawn, dusk, or nighttime, and wearing protective headgear for riders under 18 years old. The bill also specifies that motorized scooters can be operated on highways, designated bicycle lanes, or highway shoulders, but can only be used on sidewalks or bicycle paths when manually propelled. Additionally, the bill adds provisions about racing, carrying articles, and attaching to other vehicles, ensuring that motorized scooter users are subject to similar safety and traffic regulations as bicycle and moped riders. The amendments aim to provide clear guidelines for the operation of motorized scooters and integrate them into existing transportation laws.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC3371