City of San Marcos bans motorized scooter-sharing services

After a bumpy road, San Marcos City Council members approved an ordinance at a May 19 meeting that will ban the use of motorized scooter-sharing services but still allow residents the use of their own scooters.

The adopted law will prohibit companies from deploying motor-assisted scooters on public property. It will also ban residents from using motor-assisted scooters owned by scooter companies, but still allow them to use their own.

The ban for motorized scooter-sharing services will be effective immediately.

Scooter companies that fail to comply with the ordinance will receive a fine of no more than $2,000. Similarly, people operating a motor-assisted scooter owned by a scooter company will be subject to a fine of up to $50. The ordinance also gives the city permission to impound scooters found on public property with a fine of $50 per day.

Previously, San Marcos City Council members had discussed an ordinance that would have prohibited the use of all motor-assisted scooters within the city limits, but that ban was brought to a halt at a January meeting in response to public testimony and some City Council members’ concerns.

The adopted ordinance is intended to "protect the public health, welfare and safety" of the community, according to city documents.