While many Austinites were busy renting or dodging motorized scooters this week, Dripping Springs was busy banning them entirely. The city announced Thursday, “As a safety measure, Dripping Springs City Council, on March 12, approved an ordinance that bans the use of motor assisted scooters on public rights of way and sidewalks within the city. The ordinance also prohibits a person from abandoning any motor-assisted scooter on any public sidewalk, public property, public park, public way, public street, or highway within the city.” The measure will go into effect March 21 and is a pre-emptive ban that the city’s mayor, Todd Purcell, said would “ensure we are taking the necessary steps to protect our citizens and visitors.” Those found in violation of the new ordinance can be fined up to $500, and the city can impound motorized scooters found on public property or sidewalks.
Elizabeth Pagano is the editor of the Austin Monitor. More by Elizabeth Pagano