City of Spokane

Spokane Municipal Code

***Note: Many local criminal codes can now be located under Chapter 10.60 SMC while others are now cited under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), which was incorporated into the municipal code in 2022. (See SMC 10.58.010). Code Enforcement, including Noise Control and Animal Regulations are located in Chapters 10.62 through 10.74.

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Title 16A
Chapter 16A.62
Section 16A.62.030
 

Title 16A Transportation

Chapter 16A.62 Motorized Personal Transportation Devices

Section 16A.62.030 Requirements for Operating Motorized Personal Transportation Devices
  1. Minimum Age.

No person may operate a motorized personal transportation device on a street, alley, sidewalk, or other public area unless the person is sixteen (16) years of age or older.

  1. Passengers – Towing.

Only one person may occupy a motorized personal transportation device at one time. No operator of a motorized personal transportation device may transport passengers or tow other devices or persons behind a motorized personal transportation device.

  1. Helmet Required.

Any person operating a motorized personal transportation device upon any street, alley, or other public area in the City shall wear an approved bicycle helmet. This requirement does not apply to the application-based rental of electronically activated personal transportation devices by persons eighteen years of age or older.

  1. Lighting Required.
    1. All motorized personal transportation devices, when in use on any street, alley, sidewalk, or other public area during the hours of darkness set forth in RCW 46.37.020 shall be equipped with a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred (500) feet to the front.
    1. All motorized personal transportation devices, when in use on any street, alley, sidewalk, or other public area during the hours of darkness shall be equipped with a red reflector on the rear of a type approved by the Washington State Patrol which shall be visible from all distances up to six hundred (600) feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of five hundred (500) feet may be used in addition to the red reflector. A light-emitting diode flashing taillight visible from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the rear may also be used in addition to the red reflector.
    1. All motorized personal transportation devices equipped with a head lamp and/or tail lamp, are required to have the lamps on and functioning at all times when the motorized personal transportation device is being operated on street, alley, sidewalk or other public area.
  1. Muffler Required.

Motorized personal transportation devices powered by an internal combustion engine shall have a properly functioning engine muffler attached and constantly operational during use of the motorized personal transportation device to prevent a “public disturbance noise” as defined in SMC 10.08.020. The use of a cutout, bypass, or similar muffler elimination device is prohibited on all motorized personal transportation devices powered by an internal combustion engine.

  1. Brake Required.

Motorized personal transportation devices shall be equipped with a rear brake which, when applied, will enable the operator to make the braked wheel(s) skid on dry, level, clean pavement.

  1. Modifications Prohibited.

Motorized personal transportation devices operated within the City of Spokane shall not be modified or enhanced in design or construction from the specifications provide by the manufacturer, unless to comply with the requirements of this chapter

Date Passed: Monday, March 25, 2019

Effective Date: Monday, April 29, 2019

ORD C35749 Section 6