police harrassment

[skyco]

We have trouble here in hawaii with the cops harrassing people that are travelling the roads (and sidewalks)on things that do not have inspection stickers and lic plates.....skates, skateboards, scooters, atv's, golf carts, lawn mowers etc. I do not hear about the Segway having problems on these websites.....how do you deal with the slow moving vehicle controversy? skyco

[Sal]

Are Segway's legal in Hawaii? Check the laws section of this site... It says something about "died in committee" does that mean they're not legal?

My only thought on the matter is the fact that the Segway is not in the same vein as a skateboard/scooter/etc...

What do you mean by harrassment by the police?

I would imagine that the police wouldn't bother anyone unless they were doing something implicitly illegal or dangerous.

-Sal

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[SegwayUtah]

SB1051 HD2 CD1 seems to have been made into law on 6/19/2003. Guys, am I reading this right?

SB1051 status:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2003/status/SB1051.asp

Here's an excerpt of the text:
"An electric personal assistive mobility device may be operated on the sidewalks and bicycle paths of the State at a speed no greater than eight miles per hour."

"An electric personal assistive mobility device operator on a sidewalk, bikepath, or roadway, shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with, and shall yield the right-of-way to, persons traveling on foot."

"Electric personal assistive mobility device" means a self-balancing, two-wheeled, non-tandem-wheeled device, designed to transport only one person, using an electric propulsion system that limits the maximum speed of the device to twelve and a half miles per hour or less."

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2003/bills/sb1051_.htm

I think that means you're good to go on sidewalks, bike paths, and roadways. I'm not sure if there are any limits on which roads you can go on, etc., but it wouldn't hurt to have the simple numerical section of Hawaii State code memorized as well as the term "Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Device."

I'm not a lawyer, and this isn't legal advice :) I know there's a rental or sales place for Segways in Hawaii, and maybe even some tours, so I can't imagine any problems.

Chris

[KonaSegway]

Segways are legal on the sidewalks of hawaii ... our problem is finding good sidewalks :-)

Check out http://www.konasegway.com for more info.


Aloha,
Sam

[ZoliHonig]

That really sdtinks!


[8]-Zoli[8]

[BenBethel]

What's funny here in Phoenix is that I'll occasionally get hassled by a security guard or some other stupid person (only 3 such instances in almost a year of heavy use) but then I ride through two airports without anyone blinking an eye - all the way to the jetway! - and ride downtown during festivals with 20,000 people or before a baseball game with 45,000 people next to a basketball game with 21,000 people next to a convention with 10,000 people next to a 24 screen movie theater, performing arts theaters, etc... ALL of those happening at the SAME TIME and TONS of police officers everywhere (about 100 or so) and not one says a single thing, ever. Well, actually, I was riding around during a baseball game and the cops were totally bored and about 5 or 6 rode the Segway around for a while.... and loved it.

First thing to remember: let people try it out, and talk about how good it is for people with disabilities to get around... this really helps the acceptance and makes people really think about how this is a good thing... which of course it is!

Ben

www.benbethel.com

[4Seg]

quote:Originally posted by skyco

We have trouble here in hawaii with the cops harrassing people that are travelling the roads (and sidewalks)on things that do not have inspection stickers and lic plates.....skates, skateboards, scooters, atv's, golf carts, lawn mowers etc. I do not hear about the Segway having problems on these websites.....how do you deal with the slow moving vehicle controversy? skyco


Just a note... Print out the law and carry it in your bag. It really does help. Some folk just don't know. You don't even have to talk to them, just hand it to them. (but ALWAYS be polite) Better yet, give them a demo.

I make it a habit to ride right up to them, introduce myself, and somehow try to comfort them that I'm not some guy on a rad half-pipe mission on the sidewalks. :)

They just need to experience the HT and you'll be ahead.

that's just my two cents.



mike