Motorized foot scooters and shared scooters — Local authority may regulate — Contracts offered by scooter share programs to scooter share contractors — Written disclosure.

RCW 46.61.715
in effect
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(1) A local authority may regulate the operation of motorized foot scooters and shared scooters within its jurisdiction which may include, but is not limited to, the following: (a) Determining if shared scooters may be operated within the local authority's jurisdiction, and if allowed, where they may be operated; (b) Requiring scooter share programs to pay reasonable fees and taxes; (c) Requiring that shared scooters be staged in a manner compliant with the Americans with disabilities act, to ensure clear passage of pedestrian traffic on sidewalks; and (d) Adopting and assessing penalties for moving or parking violations involving shared scooters to the person responsible for such violation. (2) A contract offered by a scooter share program to a prospective scooter share contractor must make the following written disclosures to a prospective scooter share contractor: WHILE YOU ARE LOCATING AND RETURNING SCOOTERS, PROVIDING TRANSPORT, BATTERY CHARGE, OR REPAIR SERVICES, YOU MAY BE ENGAGED IN COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY. YOUR PRIVATE PASSENGER AUTOMOBILE, HOMEOWNERS, CONDOMINIUM, OR RENTERS INSURANCE POLICIES MIGHT NOT PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR YOU, DEPENDING ON THE TERMS OF YOUR POLICY. (3) For the purposes of this section: (a) "Scooter share program" means a person offering shared scooters for hire. All scooter share programs must carry the following insurance coverage: (i) Commercial general liability insurance coverage with a limit of at least one million dollars for each occurrence and five million dollars aggregate; (ii) Automobile liability insurance coverage with a combined single limit of at least one million dollars; and (iii) If a local authority authorizes operation of a motorized foot scooter by persons under sixteen years of age, the local authority may require all scooter share programs offering shared scooters for hire to such persons under sixteen years of age to carry insurance coverage at greater amounts negotiated between the programs and the local authority. (b) "Scooter share contractor" means a person other than an employee of a scooter share program retained under an independent contract to provide scooter location or transport and/or scooter battery charging or repair services to a scooter share program. (c) "Shared scooter" means any motorized foot scooter offered for hire. All shared scooters must bear a single unique alphanumeric identification visible from a distance of five feet, which shall not be obfuscated by branding or other markings, which shall be used throughout the state, including by local authorities, to identify the shared scooter. (1) A local authority may regulate the operation of motorized foot scooters and shared scooters within its jurisdiction which may include, but is not limited to, the following: (a) Determining if shared scooters may be operated within the local authority's jurisdiction, and if allowed, where they may be operated; (b) Requiring scooter share programs to pay reasonable fees and taxes; (c) Requiring that shared scooters be staged in a manner compliant with the Americans with disabilities act, to ensure clear passage of pedestrian traffic on sidewalks; and (d) Adopting and assessing penalties for moving or parking violations involving shared scooters to the person responsible for such violation. (2) A contract offered by a scooter share program to a prospective scooter share contractor must make the following written disclosures to a prospective scooter share contractor: WHILE YOU ARE LOCATING AND RETURNING SCOOTERS, PROVIDING TRANSPORT, BATTERY CHARGE, OR REPAIR SERVICES, YOU MAY BE ENGAGED IN COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY. YOUR PRIVATE PASSENGER AUTOMOBILE, HOMEOWNERS, CONDOMINIUM, OR RENTERS INSURANCE POLICIES MIGHT NOT PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR YOU, DEPENDING ON THE TERMS OF YOUR POLICY. (3) For the purposes of this section: (a) "Scooter share program" means a person offering shared scooters for hire. All scooter share programs must carry the following insurance coverage: (i) Commercial general liability insurance coverage with a limit of at least one million dollars for each occurrence and five million dollars aggregate; (ii) Automobile liability insurance coverage with a combined single limit of at least one million dollars; and (iii) If a local authority authorizes operation of a motorized foot scooter by persons under sixteen years of age, the local authority may require all scooter share programs offering shared scooters for hire to such persons under sixteen years of age to carry insurance coverage at greater amounts negotiated between the programs and the local authority. (b) "Scooter share contractor" means a person other than an employee of a scooter share program retained under an independent contract to provide scooter location or transport and/or scooter battery charging or repair services to a scooter share program. (c) "Shared scooter" means any motorized foot scooter offered for hire. All shared scooters must bear a single unique alphanumeric identification visible from a distance of five feet, which shall not be obfuscated by branding or other markings, which shall be used throughout the state, including by local authorities, to identify the shared scooter.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.61&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026

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