Council adopts electric‑scooter licensing ordinance; proposed $100‑per‑day impound fee amendment fails

Jackson City Council on May 20 adopted a resolution implementing an annual licensing fee and a noncompliance penalty for electric scooters under city ordinance 2025‑1. Council debated an amendment that would have changed the impound penalty to $100 per day for each scooter remaining impounded more than seven days; that amendment failed 2‑5. The main motion, as originally drafted, then passed unanimously.

Council discussion centered on how to balance incentives for a responsible vendor with fair penalties and the city’s expected launch size. Staff told the council the licensing fee proposed was consistent with Lansing and East Lansing and said penalties vary by community. Staff also reported that a potential vendor had discussed a soft launch of roughly 20 scooters, so the city was not likely to be inundated with devices.

The proposed amendment would have replaced the ordinance’s existing schedule (the packet cited a $100 fee after 30 days) with a $100‑per‑day charge for any scooter impounded and not retrieved within seven days of notice. Supporters said a steep, short‑term penalty would push operators to remove devices quickly from rights‑of‑way; opponents said the change was excessively punitive compared with comparable cities and could be revised after a brief operating period. Council ultimately rejected the amendment and approved the licensing/resolution as written.

Clerk records show the amendment vote failed 2‑5; the primary licensing resolution then passed 7‑0. Staff said the amendment and the resolution’s enforcement language can be revisited by council if operational experience shows adjustments are needed.