Are Electric Scooters Legal in Louisiana?

Louisiana defines an "electric low-speed scooter" as a sub‑100 lb vehicle with handlebars and a floorboard that tops out at 20 mph, exempts it from motor-vehicle status, and then grants bicycle-style rights so long as riders stay far right, keep one hand on the bars, and don’t tow or carry packages that block control. The statewide statute also requires working brakes plus front/rear lighting at night, and it imposes a helmet mandate for anyone under 17, but it simultaneously lets DOTD, parishes, and municipalities shut scooters out of specific sidewalks, bike paths, or highways or levy local parking fines if safety demands. A separate sidewalk provision (R.S. 32:200) lets local governments formally authorize 20 mph sidewalk riding during daylight, provided sellers post helmet notices and parents keep minors properly equipped, so cities can decide whether to lean into sidewalk corrals or keep riders in the street.