Chapter 8.100
MOTORIZED PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION DEVICES
Sections:
8.100.020 Duty to obey rules of the road.
8.100.030 Requirements for persons under age 16 operating motorized personal transportation devices.
8.100.050 Impounding of motorized personal transportation devices.
8.100.010 Definitions.
The following definitions are applicable in this chapter unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) “Approved bicycle helmet” means a head covering designed for safety that meets or exceeds the required safety standards adopted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 15 USC Section 6004, or Z-00.4 set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the Snell Foundation, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), or such subsequent nationally recognized standard for helmet performance as may be adopted by the city of Normandy Park. The helmet shall be equipped with a neck or chin strap that shall be securely fastened while the motorized personal transportation device is in motion.
(2) “Approved motorcycle helmet” means a protective covering for the head consisting of a hard outer shell, padding adjacent to and inside the outer shell, and a neck or chin strap type retention system, with a label required by the Federal Consumer Product Safety Commission as adopted by the Code of Federal Regulations, 16 CFR Section 1203.
(3) “Electric-assisted bicycle,” “class 1 electric-assisted bicycle,” “class 2 electric-assisted bicycle,” and “class 3 electric-assisted bicycle” shall have the meanings as set forth in RCW 46.04.169 as now adopted or hereafter amended.
(4) “Motorized foot scooter” is defined as set forth in RCW 46.04.336, as now adopted or hereafter amended.
(5) “Motorized personal transportation device” shall be a motorized device for personal transportation deemed to include motorized foot scooters, motorized skateboards, pocket motorcycles, class 1, class 2, and class 3 electric-assisted bicycles, and all other similar devices, but shall exclude motorized wheelchairs, motor driven cycles, mopeds, motorcycles, and electronic personal assistive mobility devices.
(6) “Motorized skateboard” means every device with a platform on which the rider or operator balances, the platform having two or more sets of wheels beneath it, propelled by an attached or auxiliary electric or gasoline motor.
(7) “Sidewalk” for purposes of this chapter only is defined as set forth in RCW 46.04.540 as now adopted or hereafter amended.
(8) “Street,” for the purposes of this chapter only, means the entire width between the curb boundary lines – including any designated bike lanes and the shoulder – of every way publicly maintained in the city of Normandy Park when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking. Street does not include the sidewalk or unimproved parts of a right-of-way other than the shoulder. (Ord. 1080 § 1 (Exh. A), 2025).
8.100.020 Duty to obey rules of the road.
Any person operating a motorized personal transportation device on a street shall obey all rules of the road applicable to motor vehicles, as well as the commands of official traffic control signals, signs, and other control devices applicable to motor vehicles, unless otherwise directed by a law enforcement official or their designee. Every person operating a motorized personal transportation device on a street is granted all of the rights and is subject to all of the duties and responsibilities applicable to the driver of a motor vehicle pursuant to Chapter 308-330 WAC, except WAC 308-330-500 through 308-330-540 relating to bicycle licensing, as adopted or hereafter amended, and except as to those provisions thereof which by their very nature can have no application. (Ord. 1080 § 1 (Exh. A), 2025).
8.100.030 Requirements for persons under age 16 operating motorized personal transportation devices.
The following restrictions apply to all persons under the age of 16 operating motorized personal transportation devices:
(1) Passengers – Towing. Only one person shall occupy a motorized personal transportation device at one time. An operator of a motorized personal transportation device shall not transport passengers or tow other devices or persons behind a motorized personal transportation device.
(2) Helmet Required. Any person operating a motorized personal transportation device upon any sidewalk, street, alley or other public place in the city shall wear an approved bicycle helmet or approved motorcycle helmet designed for safety on their head and shall have the neck or chin strap of the helmet fastened securely while the motorized personal transportation device is in motion or operation.
(3) Lighting Required.
(a) All motorized personal transportation devices, when in use on any sidewalk, street, alley, or other public area during times of darkness, shall be equipped with a functioning lamp on the front that shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front.
(b) All motorized personal transportation devices, when in use on any sidewalk, street, alley or other public area during times of darkness, shall be equipped with a functioning red reflector on the rear of the motorized personal transportation device, of a type approved by the Washington State Patrol, that is visible from all distances up to 600 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of the head lamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp that emits a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector. A light-emitting diode (LED) flashing taillight that is visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear may likewise be used in addition to the red reflector.
(4) Class 3 Electric Assisted Bicycles. Class 3 electric assisted bicycles may not be operated on any sidewalk, street, alley, or other public place in the city.
(5) Motorized personal transportation devices may only be operated on streets with a maximum speed limit of 25 miles per hour or less and operators must ride on the furthest right side of the pavement or shoulder.
(6) Motorized personal transportation devices may not be operated on streets or on sidewalks adjacent to streets with a maximum speed limit of 35 miles per hour or more.
(7) Motorized personal transportation devices must be operated in a safe manner and at a speed that is appropriate for the conditions.
(8) When operating a motorized personal transportation device on a sidewalk, operators must yield to pedestrians and vehicles crossing the sidewalk such as at a driveway curb cut. (Ord. 1080 § 1 (Exh. A), 2025).
8.100.040 Requirement for persons under the age of 12 operating motorized personal transportation devices.
In addition to the requirements in NPMC 8.100.030, a person under the age of 12 may only operate a motorized personal transportation device on public sidewalk, street, alley, or other public place when supervised by a responsible adult. (Ord. 1080 § 1 (Exh. A), 2025).
8.100.050 Impounding of motorized personal transportation devices.
Any commissioned officer of the Normandy Park police department may impound a motorized personal transportation device when operated by persons under the age of 16 in violation of this chapter. Any motorized personal transportation device impounded pursuant to this chapter will be released only to the parent or guardian of the owner if the owner is under the age or 16 or to the owner if the owner is over the age of 16. Impounded motorized personal transportation devices that are not claimed within 30 days are subject to forfeiture. (Ord. 1080 § 1 (Exh. A), 2025).