San Diego Criminal Lawyers Blog
San Diego has a new regulation that went into effect on July 1. The San Diego City Council put new regulations in place for scooters and bikes – sometimes referred to as dockless devices – to increase the safety of the public. Now, dockless bike and scooter riders must keep an eye on their speed in certain areas and stay informed of the parking locations where dockless bikes and scooters are accepted or face traffic tickets from law enforcement.
The Dockless Scooter and Bike Regulations do the following:
- Limit riders’ speed to 8 miles per hour on beach boardwalks
- Limit riders’ seed to 3 miles per hour in high-traffic areas
- Ban scooters from parking at hospitals, schools and certain parks
- Prohibit scooters from riding on sidewalks in the City
Additionally, the regulations:
- Require scooter companies to pay a permit fee of more than $5,000 every six months, including a $150 per device fee
- Create designated scooter parking corrals (stenciled zones where riders can park bikes and scooters) so they do not block pathways on sidewalks
- Require riders to stage scooters in groups of no more than four
- Require riders to place 40 feet between each staging area
For your information, the City of San Diego offers a map showing the areas with speed and parking restrictions. To prevent people from violating the regulations, riders will receive notifications from the dockless bike and scooter companies letting them know when they are in no-ride zones.
Although some people are not in favor of the regulations, they can help to prevent accidents on sidewalks. Just this year, the first known scooter fatality in San Diego occurred — a tourist was riding a scooter on the sidewalk when he lost control of the vehicle and crashed, suffering fatal head injuries. The report states that the tourist was not wearing a helmet.
New Dockless Scooter Regulations Enforced by the San Diego Police Department
Yes, with the new regulations, you can get a ticket and face fines for violations. The San Diego Municipal Code and California Vehicle Code explain the laws pertaining to scooters and bicycles. These laws are enforceable by the San Diego Police Department. The new regulation will allow riders and dockless device users to report dangerous behaviors and consider mechanisms for citations.
According to a Fox 5 News article, San Diego Police Department say they will be diligent in enforcing more serious traffic violations such as riding two people to a scooter or riding while under the influence. Both violations come with traffic tickets which require riders to go to traffic court or traffic school.
A San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyer is Here for You
If you receive a ticket while riding a dockless bike or scooter, contact Boertje & Associates, the San Diego Criminal Defense Attorney now. We understand the frustrations of getting an unfair traffic ticket. Attorney Boertje will use his expertise in California’s traffic laws to help get your traffic ticket dismissed. Call 888-476-0901 or contact us online for a free and confidential consultation. Affordable payment plans are available.