103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB2329

 

Introduced 2/14/2023, by Rep. Robyn Gabel

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
625 ILCS 5/1-140.11 new
625 ILCS 5/1-146  from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1-146
625 ILCS 5/1-217  from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1-217
625 ILCS 5/11-1518 new

    Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Defines "low-speed electric scooter". Provides that a person may not operate a low-speed electric scooter without a driver's license, instruction permit, or State identification card and unless he or she is 16 years of age or older. Provides that a person may operate a low-speed electric scooter where the operation of bicycles is permitted, including, but not limited to, bicycle lanes and bicycle paths, and shall have all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the rider of a bicycle. Provides requirements for lamps and reflectors for use at nighttime. Provides requirement for brakes. Prohibits the equipping or use of sirens, with the exception of scooters that are police vehicles or fire department vehicles. Effective immediately.


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A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by
5changing Sections 1-146 and 1-217 and by adding Sections
61-140.11 and 11-1518 as follows:
 
7    (625 ILCS 5/1-140.11 new)
8    Sec. 1-140.11. Low-speed electric scooter. A device
9weighing less than 100 pounds, with 2 or 3 wheels, handlebars,
10and a floorboard that can be stood upon while riding, that is
11solely powered by an electric motor and human power, and whose
12maximum speed, with or without human propulsion on a paved
13level surface, is no more than 20 miles per hour. "Low-speed
14electric scooter" does not include a moped, motor-driven
15cycle, motor vehicle, or vehicle.
 
16    (625 ILCS 5/1-146)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1-146)
17    Sec. 1-146. Motor vehicle. Every vehicle which is
18self-propelled and every vehicle which is propelled by
19electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not
20operated upon rails, except for vehicles moved solely by human
21power, motorized wheelchairs, low-speed electric bicycles,
22low-speed electric scooters, and low-speed gas bicycles. For

 

 

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1this Act, motor vehicles are divided into two divisions:
2    First Division: Those motor vehicles which are designed
3for the carrying of not more than 10 persons.
4    Second Division: Those motor vehicles which are designed
5for carrying more than 10 persons, those motor vehicles
6designed or used for living quarters, those motor vehicles
7which are designed for pulling or carrying freight, cargo or
8implements of husbandry, and those motor vehicles of the First
9Division remodelled for use and used as motor vehicles of the
10Second Division.
11(Source: P.A. 96-125, eff. 1-1-10.)
 
12    (625 ILCS 5/1-217)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1-217)
13    Sec. 1-217. Vehicle. Every device, in, upon or by which
14any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a
15highway or requiring a certificate of title under Section
163-101(d) of this Code, except devices moved by human power,
17low-speed electric scooters, devices used exclusively upon
18stationary rails or tracks and snowmobiles as defined in the
19Snowmobile Registration and Safety Act.
20    For the purposes of this Code, unless otherwise
21prescribed, a device shall be considered to be a vehicle until
22such time it either comes within the definition of a junk
23vehicle, as defined under this Code, or a junking certificate
24is issued for it.
25    For this Code, vehicles are divided into 2 divisions:

 

 

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1    First Division: Those motor vehicles which are designed
2for the carrying of not more than 10 persons.
3    Second Division: Those vehicles which are designed for
4carrying more than 10 persons, those designed or used for
5living quarters and those vehicles which are designed for
6pulling or carrying property, freight or cargo, those motor
7vehicles of the First Division remodelled for use and used as
8motor vehicles of the Second Division, and those motor
9vehicles of the First Division used and registered as school
10buses.
11(Source: P.A. 92-812, eff. 8-21-02.)
 
12    (625 ILCS 5/11-1518 new)
13    Sec. 11-1518. Low-speed electric scooters.
14    (a) A person may operate a low-speed electric scooter
15where the operation of bicycles is permitted, including, but
16not limited to, bicycle lanes and bicycle paths, and shall
17have all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the
18duties applicable to the rider of a bicycle under this
19Chapter, except as otherwise provided in this Section, and
20except for provisions that by their nature can have no
21application, including subsection (a) of Section 11-1503.
22    (b) A person may not operate a low-speed electric scooter
23without a driver's license, instruction permit, or State
24identification card.
25    (c) A person may not operate a low-speed electric scooter

 

 

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1unless he or she is 16 years of age or older.
2    (d) A low-speed electric scooter may be parked in the same
3manner and at the same locations as a bicycle may be parked.
4    (e) Every low-speed electric scooter when in use at
5nighttime shall be equipped with a lamp on the front that emits
6a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to
7the front and with a red reflector on the rear that is visible
8from all distances from 100 feet to 600 feet to the rear when
9directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps on a motor
10vehicle, except that a lamp emitting a steady or flashing red
11light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear may be
12used in addition to or instead of the red reflector.
13    (f) A low-speed electric scooter shall not be equipped
14with nor shall any person use upon a low-speed electric
15scooter any siren. This subsection does not apply to a
16low-speed electric scooter that is a police vehicle or fire
17department vehicle.
18    (g) Every low-speed electric scooter shall be equipped
19with a brake that will adequately control movement of and stop
20and hold the low-speed electric scooter.
 
21    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
22becoming law.