ATLANTA – Get your scooter off the sidewalk. Starting Wednesday, Atlanta police will start enforcing the city scooter laws.
Channel 2’s Dave Huddleston called the city and found out there are 10,000 registered electric scooters in Atlanta.
For the last 10 months or so, police didn’t really enforce the rules for where you could ride them but that all changes Wednesday.
“If you’re using anything with wheels to get around midtown or downtown Atlanta, we ask that you be in the street following the rules of the road and staying with the flow of traffic,” said Atlanta police Maj. Darin Schierbaum.
If you break the rules and ride on the sidewalk, you could get a ticket and a fine up to $1,000.
During Huddleston’s interview with Schierbaum, he saw two men riding electric bikes on the sidewalk. Schierbaum informed them of the new law.
“Perfect example right there sidewalks are constructed for pedestrians, for citizens on foot,” Schierbaum said.;
Atlanta police asked Channel 2 Action News to help them get the word out.
- No riding scooters on sidewalks
- No using cellphone while riding.
- No parking on vegetation, narrow sidewalks or blocking crosswalks and doorways.
They also shared with us a public service announcement.
They’re also working to get the word out to tourists.
“We’re going to be working very hard with the tourist board (and) the visitors center to educate the tourist because every week, we have a new group of citizens visiting Atlanta.”
For more information about the new scooter laws, click here.