If you are planning to use a scooter as your mode of transportation in Hawaii, you need to know the basic Hawaiian scooter laws. The Hawaiian road is the same for operating as it is for the other vehicle drivers. However, one needs to know about the risks and ways of operating a scooter, as the rules can vary from others.
Operating motor vehicle is a great task. To do so, you need to know the rules required. You should always be on the streets after you know something about the traffic as well as the motor laws and regulations of the place where you’re riding it. This is required so that you don’t bump and cause accidents with other vehicles.
Knowing the laws of the Hawaiian motor scooter is vital for both beginners and professionals. Also, in Hawaii, one should not confuse the scooter laws with moped laws as both are very different. How so? We’ll discuss that further in this article!
Just make sure, whenever you are riding a scooter in Hawaii, keep a valid driver’s license handy to save yourself from any unforeseen legal circumstances. Now, let’s dive into knowing what these scooter laws are in Hawaii.
What are Scooters?
Before we dive into its laws, we should understand what a scooter is actually defined as in Hawaii. Motor scooters, or just scooters, are two-wheelers that are found in 50cc and can go up to 85mph. While in most places, mopeds and scooters are used interchangeably, you should understand that these both are different vehicles. To know more about their exact definition, please follow this link.
Requirements for Riding a Motor Scooter
All motor vehicle owner or scooter owners should know a few things in mind before riding a scooter on Hawaiian roads:
Driver’s License
Anyone driving a motorcycle or motor scooter in Hawaii is supposed to have a valid ID card and driver’s license on the motorcycle or scooter with or on the operator.
Rules for getting your license
- If you are under 18 years old and want to get your motorcycle designation at the same time as your driver’s license, start the Driver Education Graduated Licensing (GDL) program.
- When getting the permit, the minor applicant will need to provide CS-L-DL 239, the Parental Consent Affidavit for a Type 2 permit, along with a CSL239 submitted for a Type 3 permit.
- The minor applicant should have their permit prior to enrolling in the motorcycle safety class.
- The minor must pass the BTW Motorcycle Certificate and CLS requirements. In addition, they must possess the Class 1 or 2 permit for 180 days; they are supposed to submit the DE Certificate and BTW Motorcycle Certificate to the DMV upon applying for the skills test.
- A person will only get their license if they meet the needs of a driver’s education and pass a test of his or her proficiency.
- If you are eighteen years of age or older and have in the person’s possession a valid driver’s license to drive the categories of motor vehicles, you are exempted from a driver’s license as that is equivalent to a driver’s license issued in this State.
- Any person who has a valid commercial motor vehicle driver’s license issued by any state of the United States, Mexico, or a province of the Dominion of Canada, which issues licenses based upon the minimum federal requirements to issue commercial motor vehicle driver’s licenses is also exempted form a driver’s license.
*For further information and requirements, please visit your county DMV website.
Insurance
Whether you are renting a scooter from a scooter rental or have your own vehicle, it is important to carry liability insurance for the vehicle and your own safety in case you meet with an accident.
Rider Safety Equipment
As stated by HRS 286 (2) (e), all minor scooter riders must wear helmets (18 years and under). While it is not necessary for adults to wear a helmet, we recommend everyone do so, as it will protect your skull and brain and save you from a lifetime injury.
No one can anticipate when you could crash into another vehicle; therefore, according to us, the best option is a full-face helmet. The additional face shield will not only reduce the wind noise but also protect you from dirt, bugs, and water when it rains.
Other safety equipment, such as eyewear and protective gear, is also a good idea for the rider’s safety. Some of these gear are full-fingered gloves, closed-toed shoes, long-sleeved shirts, and full pants.
License Plate
The next requirement is that a motor scooter rider should display the scooter license plate and ride within all traffic laws and paths.
Parking Instructions
A scooter would be easy to park if it weren’t for laws and thieves. Breaking into cars and stealing scooters have become everyday news in Hawaii. Therefore, you need to follow a few instructions to keep your scooters and mopeds safe:
- Each time you park your scooter, lock it. Because they are small and light, they are fairly easy to steal.
- If possible, chain your moped to a heavy bike rack, making it pretty difficult to steal. However, remember that you can’t always do that, and it may not even be legal.
- Scooters shall be parked in parking spaces marked for parallel parking.
- The rate of scooters parked in a metered space shall not change the rate established for the parking space.
- Any scooter parked within any space marked for parallel parking shall be parked diagonally with the front end facing the street and in the direction in which the vehicles in the near lane of traffic are traveling.
- All parallel parking spaces shall provide a minimum clearance of three feet at each end.
- Only the vehicle that is parked over the three-foot area shall be held to violate the minimum clearance requirement.
- No person shall block additional motor vehicles from parking where space is available within any parking space.
- Any motorscooter within any parallel parking space shall be entitled to the full parking time permitted by law, provided that in any metered space, each and every vehicle parked within such space shall be deemed to be parked illegally if the meter displays a violation.
- Whenever parking stalls for motorscooters are designated and marked off, the driver of such a vehicle shall park the vehicle entirely in a marked stall.
- If on-street parking stalls or spaces are offered, marked off, and identified as for motorscooters along any street block, it shall be unlawful for the driver to park on any part of such street block other than in a stall or space so established.
- Where parking stalls for scooters are so established, marked off, and designated, it shall be unlawful for the driver of any other vehicle to park in a stall designated parking space.
- The phrase “street block” herein shall refer to one side of any street, said length to extend between two consecutive intersections; or in the case of a dead-end street, one side of such dead-end street, the length of said side to extend between said dead-end and the nearest intersection.
- Furthermore, provisions have been given on parking; these include scooter-only spaces, on-street parking stalls, and metered spaces in areas allocated to moped riders but in an orderly use of public spaces.
Rules of the Road
Scooters and mopeds are safe vehicles on the Hawaiian roads. But you still need to know the road rules in order to be safer and not harm others. Here are some rules you must know:
- Traffic laws apply to persons driving a scooter.
- Every person driving a scooter on the roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver.
- Any person who does any act forbidden or fails to perform any act provided by law is in violation of the law.
- Any negligence, misconduct, or violation by a minor while driving a moped shall be imputed to the parent or guardian having custody of such minor, which person shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor for any damages caused by such negligence or misconduct and any penalty assessed by the courts for such violation.
- No person shall drive a scooter unless the person has a valid driver’s license.
- The rider of a scooter shall, upon demand of a police officer, produce the rider’s driver’s license or instruction permit.
- Anyone riding a moped slower than the traffic flow should stay as close to the right side of the road as possible, being careful when passing parked or slower-moving vehicles.
- When approaching an intersection from the right without a stop requirement, give way to traffic on the crossing road if it’s nearest to the intersection.
- On a one-way road with two or more lanes, a moped rider can stay as close to the left side as possible.
- Any person convicted of violating this section shall be subject to penalties.
Scooter Driving
Here are some scooter driving rules you should follow in Hawaii:
- No one under sixteen years old can operate a scooter.
- No person shall operate a scooter unless the person is sitting astride the seat, facing forward, with one leg on each side of the moped.
- No person shall operate a scooter upon which any other person is riding, nor shall any person other than the operator ride on a moped.
- Finally, no person in Hawaii can rent a scooter if they are below 21 years old.
Operation of Scooters on Highways
There’s a lot of debate about scooters on the highways in Hawaii. Scooters are usually not allowed on the highways due to their lower horsepower and speed limit. But if by any chance, one has to travel through the highway, keep this in mind:
- All motorcycles and mopeds on public highways must have a working muffler to control excessive or unusual noise. No muffler or exhaust system should have a cutout, bypass, or similar device. It’s also prohibited to modify the exhaust to increase noise beyond the original muffler’s level, except in specific cases.
- Here, a “muffler” is a device with chambers, baffle plates, or a similar design that takes in exhaust from the motorcycle or moped engine to reduce noise.
- Anyone who violates these rules shall be fined not more than $100.
Possession of Intoxicating Liquor While Operating a Motorscooter
Drinking and driving is not a great thing for you as well as for the other fellow drivers on the road. There are certain rules in Hawaii related to intoxication while operating a motor vehicle:
- No person shall drink any intoxicating liquor while driving a motor vehicle or riding a moped on any public street, road, or highway.
- No person shall carry any bottle, can, or other receptacle filled with any intoxicating liquor which has been opened or a seal broken or the contents of which have been partially drawn while driving a motor vehicle on any public street, road, or highway.
- In addition, scooters shall be inspected annually at safety inspection stations authorized by the city to ensure conformity with its standards on noise, safety, and emissions.
An Overview of the Rules and Regulations
If you are planning to visit Honolulu, Hawaii, and travel around in a scooter, be careful, and don’t be fooled by their small size—scooters can be very dangerous and cause serious accidents, risking the rider and others.
In Honolulu, understanding Hawaii’s scooter laws is essential for staying safe and within your rights. Here’s what riders need to know about legal and practical scooter requirements in Hawaii.
While we’ve discussed in detail all the rules and regulations you need to know before riding a scooter during your Honolulu vacation, here’s an overview of all the main points:
- While you can start riding a 50cc scooter from the age of 16, to rent a two-passenger scooter, you must be at least 21 with a valid motorcycle license.
- If you’re 18 or older without a motorcycle license, you can rent a one-passenger 50cc moped.
- On highways, you can drive both 50cc mopeds and larger scooters. Mopeds (50cc) should stay in the bike lane, while scooters (over 50cc) can use the road if they keep up with traffic.
- Hawaii law prohibits carrying two people on a 50cc moped. If you have a motorcycle license, consider renting a motor scooter, which seats two and can ride on any road.
- Always park your scooters in the designated parking spaces to avoid violating traffic laws.
- Never drive a moped or a scooter when you are intoxicated; otherwise, you might have to pay a hefty fine!
Explore Honolulu! Ride Safe!
Scooters are a great budget-friendly option if you are visiting Honolulu and exploring the city more deeply. However, even though you know how to ride the vehicle, you should know the laws related to it. This is because scooter laws for every state and country might differ.
To make things easier for you, we have tried adding all the possible rules and regulations related to scooter driving on one page so you don’t have to keep changing tabs and look for the laws yourself. From license requirements to the road rules, you’ll find everything here! And once you’re done and all set to explore Honolulu, don’t forget to contact us to rent the best scooters at the best rate!
FAQs
Do I need a license to drive a scooter in Hawaii?
Yes, if you are riding a scooter in Hawaii, you must have a valid driver’s license to operate a moped or scooter on public roads. However, if the scooter has an engine size of 50cc or less, a Class 1 driver’s license for mopeds is sufficient. For scooters over 50cc, you will need a motorcycle license.
Do I need insurance for my scooter?
While scooters under 50cc do not require insurance in Hawaii, we recommend having liability insurance. Liability insurance is mandatory for larger scooters over 50cc, as they are considered motorcycles.
Is registration required for scooters?
Yes, scooters and mopeds must be registered with the Hawaii Department of Motor Vehicles. This includes paying a registration fee and displaying a license plate on the scooter.
Can two people ride on a scooter in Hawaii?
Only scooters designed for two riders are legally permitted to carry a passenger. If your scooter is not equipped with a second seat and foot pegs for the passenger, riding with two people is not allowed.
Are there any DUI laws for scooter riders?
Yes, driving under the influence (DUI) laws apply to all motor vehicles, including scooters. It is illegal to operate a scooter while intoxicated, and violators can face fines, license suspension, or even jail time.