Lawndale Municipal Code Ch. 12.64 Shared Mobility Devices

The purpose of this chapter is to prohibit shared mobility devices from being stored or placed in the public right-of-way or on public property, and to prohibit shared mobility devices from being provided or offered for use within in the city from the public right-of-way, so as to allow for adequate pedestrian traffic flow and to promote public safety. The chapter shall provide the city's rules and regulations for such devices, which supplement and do not supplant the fields of regulation occupied by the state of California, including, but not limited to, the California Vehicle Code.

(Ord. 1157-19 § 2)

For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this chapter.

"Motorized scooter"

shall have the same definition as that provided by California Vehicle Code Section 407.5.

"Public right-of-way"

shall mean any area across, along, beneath, in, on, over, under, upon, and within the dedicated a public alley, public parkway, public transportation path, sidewalk, public place, public property or public street that is owned, operated, or controlled by the city or dedicated or granted by easement to the city for public purposes.

"Shared mobility device"

shall mean any wheeled transportation device including a motorized scooter by which a person and/or property may be propelled, moved or drawn, other than an automobile or motorcycle, that is powered by a motor and that is accessed through a shared mobility program.

"Shared mobility program"

shall mean an on-demand system of self-service shared mobility devices for hire to the public and accessed by smartphone application, membership card, or similar method, which said program is operated by a shared mobility program operator that offers a pool of three or more shared mobility devices at unstaffed locations for use in the public rights-of-way.

"Shared mobility program operator"

shall mean a "person", as that term is defined by Section 1.04.030, who owns, manages, maintains and/or operates a motorized scooter program, whether for profit or not.

(Ord. 1157-19 § 2)

A. It is unlawful to park, leave standing, abandon, leave lying, or otherwise place a shared mobility device in the public right-of-way anywhere within the city.

B. It is unlawful to provide, place or offer for use a shared mobility device, or to operate as a shared mobility device operator in any public right-of-way within the city.

(Ord. 1157-19 § 2)

A. Any violation of this chapter shall be punishable as a misdemeanor or infraction as provided by Section 1.08.010 of this code.

B. Code enforcement officers, other designated city employees, and any party contracted by the city to specifically impound shared mobility devices are authorized to impound any shared mobility device that has been offered for use, placed in a public right-of-way, or operated in a public right-of-way in violation of this chapter. The impound shall be subject to an impound and storage fee established by resolution of the city council. The city may promulgate, by resolution of the city council, further guidance for notification to shared mobility program operators regarding an impounded shared mobility device and the procedures for its retrieval, and other policies as may otherwise be necessary to implement the purpose of this chapter.

(Ord. 1157-19 § 2)