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The Mount Laurel Township Police
Department alerts parents about a dangerous and illegal
vehicle that is becoming popular in our area and may be high
on some children's gift lists - motorized skateboards.
Motorized skateboards, whether powered by gas or electric
motors, are illegal when operated on the roadways, sidewalks
or public property of this state. Many municipalities also
prohibit their operation through local ordinances.
These vehicles, commonly
known as “go-boards”, are classified as motor vehicles under
the New Jersey Motor Vehicles Laws, N.J.S. 39:1-1, which
states: "Motor vehicle" includes all
vehicles propelled otherwise than by muscular power, excepting
such vehicles as run only upon rails or tracks and motorized
bicycles.
The New Jersey Motor Vehicle
Commission has further defined these “go-boards” as
motorcycles under N.J.S. 39:1-1 which states:
"Motorcycle" includes motorcycles, motor bikes,
bicycles with motor attached and all motor-operated vehicles
of the bicycle or tricycle type, except motorized bicycles as
defined in this section, whether the motive power be a part
thereof or attached thereto and having a saddle or seat with
driver sitting astride or upon it or
a platform on which the driver stands.
These vehicles are legally defined as
motorcycles, albeit small ones, under the laws of New Jersey.
Under current New Jersey law these vehicles cannot be
registered because they lack fundamental safety equipment. The
manufacturer’s warning label placed on many of the vehicles
stating that the vehicle is not in compliance with federal law
and are not to be operated on public roadways supports this
fact.
Operation of these vehicles on the
roadways, sidewalks or public property of this state could
result in the operator being cited for operating an
unregistered and uninsured vehicle and the impoundment of the
vehicle. If the parents purchase one of these vehicles and
allowed an unlicensed driver to operate their vehicle they
could face a charge of allowing an unlicensed driver to
operate the vehicle under
N.J.S. 39:3-37.1.
Please feel
free to contact the Mount Laurel Police Community Policing
Bureau at 234-1414 ext. 532 with any questions.
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