Companies such as Bird, Jump, Lime and Ojo will not be allowed to bring electric scooters and other dockless mobility options to the city of Dripping Springs in the foreseeable future.

Dripping Springs City Council on March 12 approved a new ordinance that prohibits the use of motor-assisted scooters and like vehicles within the city limits. The ordinance includes a fine for individuals who leave regulated dockless options at public places.

According to the ordinance, those who operate or leave a motorized scooter on public sidewalks, streets, properties and parks in Dripping Springs are subject to a fine up to $500.

The ordinance also gives the city permission to impound any related vehicles if left unattended. When a scooter is found, the city will leave a warning notice on the scooter, giving owners 24 hours to remove it before being impounded.

While dockless mobility has not become an issue is Dripping Springs, other Central Texas cities have seen the vehicles introduced to their areas. In the city of Austin, over 17,000 dockless scooters and bikes were introduced between April 2018 and January 2019, according to the Austin Transportation Department. The department paused issuance of new licenses to dockless mobility operators Jan. 17 as staffers assess the demand for the devices and begin to craft further possible regulations.

Cities such as Fredericksburg have also banned the vehicles, while cities such as Pflugerville are working to create rules around the recent arrival of dockless electric scooters.