Are electric skateboards legal? If you are looking for a cut-and-dried answer to the question, you might be somewhat disappointed. It is virtually impossible to say that electric skateboards are illegal in all locations. The short answer to the question is yes, these types of skateboards are legal in most cases. With that being said, you should never automatically assume that they are legal wherever you actually plan on using them. This is because laws regarding electric skateboards vary great deal from one municipality the next. In some cases, there are even large variances between the laws regarding them from one state to another.
Where is It Legal?
For now, they are legal in most places but it is a good idea for you to check and make sure before using one in public. This could save you a lot of heartache later on. Every municipality has the ability to create their own laws regarding electric skateboards. As a result of some recent incidents that have happened with some of these items, there is a big push for them to become illegal across the board. Even though that has not yet happened, there are some locations that are trying to make it illegal for them to be used in public in a particular city or town.
Think of it like this. If you live in one town and you want to add on to your home, you might be able to do what you want without getting a permit in order to do so. However, that is certainly not the case in all locations. In fact, many locations will fine you substantially for doing something to your home without getting a permit first. It is the same way with laws regarding electric skateboards and virtually everything else. The best thing you can do is contact the municipality where you want to use it and ask someone who is an authority on the matter in that particular area whether or not it is legal.
Why is this important? The truth is, there are not that many places that will cut you a break, so to speak, on the basis that you are unaware of the law. While you might get lucky and find someone that will give you a warning instead of actually fining you, you also might end up getting a ticket that requires you to pay a hefty fine. It is simply better to know for sure ahead of time. This will prevent you from making a potentially costly mistake.
Conclusion
The most important thing to remember is that as long as you make sure that it is okay to use the skateboard in the area where you want to use it and you do so safely, you should be able to enjoy it without having a lot of problems. Electric skateboards can be tricky to operate, hence the reason that so many people are against them being legal. Your best course of action is to get one that you can operate close to your home and get used to using it so that you can build up your skills before you start using it in public anyway.
