The signing of a new law has imposed new regulations on electric-powered personal mobility vehicles, as well as new challenges for Illinois law enforcement. The new law imposes age requirements and speed limits on e-bikes, dirt bikes, scooters, and e-skateboards, and authorizes local governments and private property owners to ban the devices from certain rights-of-way.
Putting on the brakes: New Illinois law establishes rules for e-bikes, scooters
Senate Bill 3484 (P.A. 104-854) focuses on so-called “high-speed” e-bikes. These are personal mobility machines that can be throttled up to move faster than 28 miles per hour. Reclassifying these e-bikes as parallel to fuel-powered motorcycles, the new law requires their owners to have: (i) drivers’ licenses, (ii) vehicle insurance policies, and (iii) a State-registered ownership title. Once fully licensed, the owners will be authorized to ride these throttled-up e-bikes on public roads and highways. The use of non-high-speed e-bikes will be governed by a less encompassing set of rules. However, juveniles up to and including age 14 will be completely forbidden from riding them in Illinois.