05/21/2026
Due to an increasing number of inquiries related to the legal status of electric scooters on city streets and sidewalks, the Demopolis Police Department wanted to provide some general guidance on the use of scooters and the laws that apply to them. Alabama law places scooters in the same category as motor vehicles so they are regulated more like cars, motorcycles and motor driven cycles than bicycles. We absolutely want kids outside enjoying their summer and spending time with friends. Our goal is to keep everyone safe- riders, pedestrians and drivers. We have included a list of state laws applicable to the e-scooters as well as a graphic illustration. We would also like to encourage parents and guardians to assist us in making sure the children in our community are safe and understand basic traffic laws when they are legally on public streets. Our police officers will continue focusing on education and enforcement in areas with high activity to promote safety, prevent injury and keep our community safe.
Alabama law defines a “scooter” as: a. A device weighing less than 100 pounds that satisfies all of the following: 1. Has handlebars and an electric motor. 2. Is solely powered by the electric motor or human power. 3. Has a maximum speed of no more than 20 m.p.h. on a paved level surface when powered solely by the electric motor. b. This term does not include an e-bike, EPAMD, Segway, motorcycle, or moped.
Alabama Code 32-1-1.1(62) “Scooters” are considered “motor vehicles” and “motor driven cycles”. This is important because the rules that apply to both motor vehicles and motor driven cycles also apply to scooters. This means it is against the law to: Drive a Scooter on the Sidewalk. No person shall drive any vehicle upon a sidewalk or sidewalk area except upon a permanent or duly authorized temporary driveway.
Alabama Code 32-6-51 Driving a Scooter without rear tags. Every motor vehicle operator who operates a motor vehicle upon any city street or other public highway of or in this state shall at all times keep attached and plainly visible on the rear end of such motor vehicle a license tag or license plate as prescribed and furnished by the Department of Revenue at the time the owner or operator purchases his license.
Alabama Code 32-6-1 Driving a Scooter on public streets without a license. Every person, except those specifically exempted by statutory enactment, shall procure a driver’s license before driving a motor vehicle upon the highways of this state. Every new resident of the State of Alabama shall procure an Alabama driver’s license within 30 days after establishing residence in this state.
Alabama Code 32-12-22 (a) A person operating a motor-driven cycle with a Class M motorcycle license with a motor-driven cycle restriction, a motorcycle Class M displayed on the person’s regular license, or a Class M motorcycle license shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle under Chapter 6 of this title, except as to special regulations in this article and those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application. (b)(1) A Class M motorcycle license with a motor-driven cycle restriction shall be issued to any person 14 years and older if the person has passed a motorcycle knowledge test designated by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency or if the individual has successfully completed an Alabama Traffic Safety Center/Alabama Motorcycle Safety Program, Motorcycle Safety foundation, Basic Riders Course. (2) A person 17 years of age or younger operating a motor-driven cycle shall be subject to the operating hours, exceptions, and suspensions provided in Section 32-6-7.2. c) This section and the portion of section 32-5A-240 amended by Act 2015-223 do not apply to a person who has obtained a license to operate a motorcycle or a motor-driven cycle prior to January 1, 2016.
Alabama Code 32-12-22
• Ride a Scooter without a helmet or shoes. No person shall operate or ride upon a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle unless he or she is wearing protective headgear that complies with standards established by Section 32-12-41. No person shall operate or ride upon a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle unless he or she is wearing shoes.
Alabama Code 32-12-22
• Ride a Scooter that doesn’t have brakes. Every motor-driven cycle when operated upon the highway shall be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold such vehicle.
As a parent it is against the law to:
Permit your child to ride a scooter without helmet or shoes.
Alabama Code 32-5A-245
No person shall knowingly permit or allow any juvenile for whom he or she is a parent or guardian to operate or ride upon a motorcycle or motor driven cycle while not wearing a protective of the kind authorized in Section 32-12-41.
Permit your child to violate any of the laws applicable to Scooters
Alabama Code 32-12-20
It is unlawful for any person to do any act forbidden or to fail to perform any act required by this chapter. The parent of any child and the guardian of any ward shall not authorize or knowingly permit any such child or ward to violate any provisions of this chapter. As used herein, the motor driven cycle shall include every motorcycle weighing fully equipped less than 200 pounds and every bicycle with a motor attached, excluding an electric bicycle and every motor scooter.
• Violate any of the Rules of the Road on a Scooter. If operated on the street, drivers of scooters must abide by the Rules of the Road as codified in Alabama Code 32-5A-1 et seq, just like with any other “motor vehicle”.
