Lockport council approves local rules for low-speed electric scooters

Lockport City Council members voted to allow low-speed electric scooters on city streets under the equipment, speed and age limits set by Illinois law.
The ordinance, introduced as ordinance 25-011 and discussed at length during the meeting, permits operation of low-speed electric scooters by people 18 or older on streets with speed limits under 35 mph and requires lights or reflectors similar to bicycle equipment. Council members and staff emphasized outreach and education — rather than immediate fines — for first-time violations.
Council members said the change matters because the state law passed in August 2024 made the devices legal in unincorporated areas but left incorporated municipalities the choice to authorize them locally. The local ordinance was written to match the state’s minimum standards: scooters must weigh under 100 pounds, have a top operating speed of 10 miles per hour or less, be operated by someone 18 or older, and be equipped with a headlight and either a taillight or reflectors.
During the discussion, staff said the city faces enforcement and safety challenges tied to a range of electric vehicles — from low-speed stand-on scooters to higher-powered electric dirt bikes — and that municipal rules must avoid conflicting with state law. Police and public works staff urged public education in schools and through PTA or community outreach before heavier enforcement when students return. Alderman Berghar and other council members noted electric dirt bikes present a separate enforcement concern because they can reach much higher speeds and resemble e-bikes.
The council placed the scooter ordinance on the consent agenda and approved it without separate roll-call debate. Staff said the city will pair the ordinance with public information and outreach through school resource officers and community liaisons, and that existing city code on unlicensed off-road motor vehicles would be amended to avoid internal conflicts.
Council members discussed, but did not adopt, a helmet requirement in the ordinance; staff explained the state law’s minimum standards constrained how much the city could add and that helmet rules for motorcycles and some bicycles are handled at the state level. The final ordinance emphasizes education and equipment requirements and leaves helmet policy for possible future consideration.
Looking ahead, staff flagged that state action on e-bikes may require additional local changes in the near term, and that the city will track complaints, compliance and any incidents as part of ongoing public outreach.