As the popularity of hoverboards rise, so do the concerns of the safety of these advanced skateboards. In Oct. 2015, the California State Legislature passed a bill that set limits to these electrically motorized boards; it went into effect starting on Jan. 1.
There have been many incidents of hoverboards catching on fire while charging and situations where people have sustained fractures from falling off their boards.
The new rules for electrically motorized boards, which are under law AB 604, are somewhat similar to those of bike and skateboard laws. These regulations are primarily set to legalize electronic skateboards, which allows people to use segways on public streets.
Users must be of 16 years or older in order to be eligible to transport themselves on a segway. Riders must wear helmets when riding in public places such as highways, sidewalks or public bike lanes. The maximum speed users can ride at in public is 15 miles per hour, and riders can only use their hoverboards on streets with maximum 35 mile per hour speed limits.
Like driving rules, it is illegal for people to ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These motorized board must have lights and reflectors when used at night. If people are caught violating these laws, they will have to pay up to a $250 fine.
For riders like Sophomore Kiara Luu, riding her board is a source of entertainment, but she still remains wary of the new regulations. She received her first board in early Sept. 2015, and has been riding it for about the past five months.
“Laws will apply to everything just as it has in the past decades,” Luu said. “Before this law became in effect, many injuries have occurred for this law to pass.”
However, people like Junior Marcel Pan, who recently obtained his hoverboard on New Year’s Eve, have their own input on these laws.
“They are overdoing it by having us be 16 or older and where we have to ride it now,” Pan said. “I don’t see the point of making something for everyone when only a few can ride it.”
Just like the state, our school has its own rules for hoverboards. The school’s regulations on skateboards also apply to hoverboards. Students are not allowed to ride their boards at anytime on campus, even after school is dismissed.
Hoverboards cannot be carried around school and must be locked away somewhere safe or possibly hung on the skateboard rack.
The next time you are riding your hoverboard, take these regulations into consideration and be a responsible rider.
Note: Rampage received permission from Assistant Principal Mr. Aaron Chang before taking pictures of students on their hover boards. Riding hover boards at school is not tolerated.