Electric skateboards and so-called “hoverboards” are increasingly popular amoung young people. But while a California law makes these boards legal, it also makes riding one under the influence a crime.
In October 2015, then-Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 604 into law. Effective January 1, 2016, the law allows people 16 and older to ride electric skateboards in California
- bike lanes,
- bike paths,
- sidewalks,
- trails and
- roads where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less.
Skaters must wear helmets under the new law, and if you’re riding at night, your board needs to have a light and reflective gear.
But the law also makes it very clear that since these electric boards can go very fast and pose a safety risk to the rider and others, riding one under the influence anywhere in California is against the law. Specifically, Section 21296 of the California Vehicle Code states that:
- It is unlawful for a person to operate an electrically motorized board upon a highway while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or any drug, or under the combined influence of an alcoholic beverage and any drug.
- A person arrested for a violation of this section may request to have a chemical test made of his or her blood or breath for the purpose of determining the alcoholic or drug content of that
A conviction for a violation of Section 21296 shall be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250). While the consequences of being convicted for riding a skateboard under the influence are obviously and significantly less than those for driving under the influence and is not a “DUI,” riders should be aware that their board can still get them in trouble with the law if they’ve had a few too many drinks.
