(a) (1) A low speed micromobility device (including an electric scooter) may be operated on the public streets, highways, sidewalks, bicycle paths, and other shared-use paths and may be operated on any portions of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles in accordance with this section.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, those sections of this chapter that by their nature could apply to a low-speed micromobility device (including electric scooters) do apply to the device and the person operating it whenever it is operated upon any public street, highway, sidewalk, bicycle path or other shared-use path, or upon any portion of a roadway set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.
(b) No operator of a low-speed micromobility device (including electric scooters) shall do any of the following:
(1) Fail to yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians at all times;
(2) Fail to give an audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian;
(3) Operate the device at night unless the device or its operator is equipped with or wearing both of the following:
A. A lamp pointing to the front that emits a white light visible from a distance of not less than five hundred feet;
B. A red reflector facing the rear that is visible from all distances from one hundred feet to six hundred feet when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle.
(c) (1) No person who is under sixteen years of age shall rent a low-speed micromobility device, including an electric scooter.
(2) No person shall knowingly rent a low-speed micromobility device including an electric scooter to a person who is under sixteen years of age.
(3) No person shall knowingly rent a low-speed micromobility device including an electric scooter on behalf of a person who is under sixteen years of age.
(d) No person shall operate a low-speed micromobility device at a speed greater than twenty miles per hour.
(e) (1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(2) Unless a mens rea is otherwise specified in this section, an offense established under this section is a strict liability offense and section 2901.20 of the Ohio Revised Code does not apply. The designation of that offense as a strict liability offense shall not be construed to imply that any other offense, for which there is no specified degree of culpability, is not a strict liability offense.
(ORC 4511.514; Ord. 09-42-2021. Passed 9-7-21.)