North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years
By Ruben Lowman
Horry County leaders are moving forward with a new ordinance designed to regulate the use of electric scooters and other personal power-driven mobility devices in unincorporated areas throughout the county.
The proposal, which was discussed during a County Council transportation committee meeting last Tuesday, March 24, aims to address a growing number of safety complaints from residents in high-traffic neighborhoods.
The draft ordinance is closely modeled after rules adopted by the city of Myrtle Beach last year, which were implemented following a spike in collisions and safety incidents involving scooters and similar motorized vehicles.
Under the proposed guidelines, these personal electric devices would be prohibited from operating on any public sidewalk or on any roadway with a posted speed limit exceeding 20 miles per hour.
Furthermore, the ordinance would ban the use of scooters on all county-owned property, including public parks, parking lots and green spaces. To enhance safety during operation, the county plans to cap scooter speeds at 20 miles per hour and require functional front lights visible from at least 500 feet for any travel after dark.
Operators would also be required to yield the right of way to pedestrians, provide an audible signal before passing others and refrain from using cell phones or other electronic devices while riding.
The push for these regulations stems from a wave of reports concerning reckless riding and a lack of visibility. Residents throughout the more congested areas of the county have shared accounts of near-misses with young riders who they said frequently travel without lights or disregard standard traffic laws.
Unlike electric bicycles, which fall under state regulations, stand-up and sit-down electric scooters currently lack a comprehensive state-level legal framework in the Palmetto State. This legislative gap has left local municipalities and county governments to create their own enforcement standards to manage the influx of these devices on public infrastructure.
If the ordinance successfully passes three readings by the Horry County Council, violations would be classified as misdemeanors punishable by a fine of up to $100 or a jail sentence of up to 30 days.
County officials emphasized that the intent is not to ban the devices entirely but to keep them off busy arterial roads where the speed difference between scooters and cars creates a significant hazard.
Residents who advocated for the change at the meeting expressed hope that the potential for formal penalties will encourage parents to better supervise how and where their children operate these devices. The proposal excludes state-regulated e-bikes and specialized mobility equipment used by individuals with disabilities.
