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Villa Park trustees favor studying ordinance to permit e‑scooters, direct staff to start public education
Summary
After hearing police and legal staff, trustees gave a preliminary majority to develop a local ordinance permitting and regulating low‑speed electric scooters and to start a public education campaign through Sept. 15; no ordinance was adopted at the meeting.
Village of Villa Park trustees on May 19 directed staff to draft a local ordinance to permit and regulate low‑speed electric scooters and to begin an education campaign this summer, following an outline by the police chief and the village attorney of state law and enforcement options.
The board's preliminary direction came from a nonbinding straw poll: four trustees voted to seek an ordinance for first reading and two opposed. Trustees emphasized that the state law that came into effect in August 2024 prohibits e‑scooter use unless a municipality enacts a permitting ordinance.
Police Chief Rivas told the board the proposed ordinance would mirror the Illinois vehicle code's restrictions and that the village must adopt a local ordinance to allow scooter use. He said municipalities that permit scooters must set local rules on where scooters can operate and on equipment such as lights and brakes, and might require helmets. "If you allow e‑scooters, you have to create an ordinance," Chief Rivas said. "If you do not, then you do not allow them."
Village Attorney Wolf advised the board the state code sets a minimum framework but leaves localities discretion on certain details. Trustees discussed a number of local choices: minimum user age (state law requires 18 for this vehicle class), maximum allowable street speed where scooters are permitted (trustees discussed limiting use to streets posted 30 mph or lower rather than the 35 mph threshold in the draft), helmet requirements, an equipment standard (lights, brakes), fines and penalties, and a seizure procedure for repeated violations.
Board members focused on practical steps to reduce unsafe use by underage riders: an education campaign timed to run through the summer with a target end date of Sept. 15; outreach to local schools to discourage bringing scooters onto school property; an initial warning period for first offenses followed by enforcement and adjudication for repeated or malicious violations. Trustee Cordova proposed starting an awareness campaign immediately and running it through Sept. 15 so police and schools can educate families before the holiday shopping season. Trustees also suggested adapting materials used by neighboring communities rather than designing them from scratch.
On enforcement, Chief Rivas said officers would respond to complaints and could seize scooters where the operator was acting recklessly; ordinance violations would go through the village adjudication process. Trustees debated fine levels and whether officers should prioritize traffic enforcement over low‑level scooter violations.
The board did not adopt an ordinance at the meeting. Staff was directed to draft a proposed ordinance incorporating the board's changes and to return it for a first reading at a future meeting. Meanwhile trustees approved starting a public information effort and to coordinate outreach with the school districts.
Votes and straw poll: The board recorded a preliminary vote—four in favor and two opposed—to proceed with developing an ordinance for first reading; that straw poll was not a final ordinance vote.
