Are Hoverboards illegal in NYC?

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asked Jun 24, 2022 in Commuting by mythoughtsyous (480 points)
Are Hoverboards illegal in NYC?

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answered Jun 24, 2022 by 2021sucked (43,240 points)
Hoverboards are illegal to ride in NYC.

You cannot legally ride a Hoverboard on NYC sidewalks or roads as they are considered to be motorized vehicles by the DMV.

It's not illegal to own a hoverboard in NYC but it's illegal to ride or operate a hoverboard in NYC.

Considered to be vehicles by the DMV, the hoverboard is illegal to ride on the sidewalks and roads of NYC.

You may, however, find a place to ride your hoverboard outside city limits in NY State.

You can ride a hoverboard on the sidewalk anywhere outside of NYC, but it is against the law to do so in the city.

So it’s best to leave riding your hoverboard to quiet suburban streets with few drivers and pedestrians.
NY

In NY State, under the VTL (Vehicle & Traffic Law) § 114-d, the hoverboard is considered to be an “electric personal assistive mobility device” (EPAMD), which is defined as:

“A self-balance, two non-tandem wheeled device designed to transport one person by means of an electric propulsion system, with an average output of not more than 750 watts (one horsepower), and the maximum speed of which on a paved level surface, when propelled solely by its electric propelled solely by its electric propulsion system while ridden by an operator weighing 170 pounds, is less than 12 1/2 miles per hour.”

Other EPAMDs include devices such as Segways, motorized wheelchairs, and one-wheel scooters.

They do not require a driver’s license to operate.

EPAMDs are not considered to be “motor vehicles” in NY State, so people may ride them on sidewalks outside the city.

NY suburbanites can ride their hoverboard out of their driveway and over to a neighbor’s house as they please.

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