Electric Scooters are legal - within the relevant regulations
Electric standup scooters are fully legal in Arizona and are regulated under A.R.S. § 28-819, which grants riders the same rights and duties as bicyclists.
This means the Bo Model M is treated as a bicycle, not a motor vehicle - so you are legal to ride.
Regulations relating to Scooter Status
To maintain scooter status and avoid being reclassified as a moped (requiring a license and registration), an e-vehicle must:
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Weight: Weigh less than 75 lbs.
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Speed: Not exceed a top motor-assisted speed of 20 mph.
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Night Gear: Be equipped with a white front lamp (visible from 500 ft) and a red rear reflector or light.
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Labeling: Be labeled with the classification number, top speed, and motor wattage.
City-Specific Local Regulations:
While the state provides the baseline, cities like Phoenix and Scottsdale have enacted strict new ordinances in 2025 to manage traffic flow:
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Phoenix: Riding on sidewalks is strictly prohibited (PCC 36-304). If riding a scooter you must use bike lanes or the roadway.
The minimum age to operate an e-scooter in Phoenix is 16. -
Scottsdale: In July 2025, Scottsdale passed Ordinance No. 4680. This means you can ride on sidewalks, but you must yield to pedestrians and maintain a "reasonable and prudent" speed.
However, e-scooters are prohibited on any street with a speed limit of 40 mph or greater. -
Tempe: The minimum age is 16 (unless with parental consent).
Tempe encourages bike lane use; you may only ride on the sidewalk if no bike lane is available and the street speed limit is over 25 mph.
If on the sidewalk, the motor must be disengaged or slowed to 5 mph when passing pedestrians. -
Safety (Helmets): State law does not mandate helmets for adults, but riders under 18 are required to wear them in almost all major Arizona jurisdictions, including Tempe and Scottsdale.
A note on DUI
We have occasionally received questions about riding a scooter under the influence.
Arizona has some of the strictest DUI and reckless driving laws for e-scooters in the country (Scottsdale's penalties can mirror car DUIs). In short, it's best to never drink and ride.
Disclaimer: Bo USA Inc. endeavours to keep these documents up to date and relevant, however does not in any manner guarantee the accuracy of the included findings regarding electric scooter laws in the United States. Always carry out secondary research to validate any statement - and refer directly to the relevant authority before presuming accuracy.
Electric scooter riders or those considering to purchase or begin riding electric scooters should refer to their local governments to obtain the most up-to-date information on the applicable, local legal standing of scooters.
The Bo Model-M: Since the electric scooter is legal in Alabama, we consider it worth investing in a vehicle that is going to bring you real pleasure every time you use it.
To that end, Bo is the only electric scooter designed and engineered by a team of car guys. Where the rest of the scooter industry took children's toys and ruggedised them, we started with a blank sheet of paper to develop the best vehicle in the world for local journeys.
Of course, you can only really feel that when you ride it for yourself; that is why we give an extraordinary 60 day return policy and have a customer response team full of the engineers who made it. When you contact Bo, you're going straight to the source.
Visit the Model M page - click here
Learn more about how we made the 'M' - click here
Go watch a Youtube about the Model-M - click here
Return to the State-by-State regulation page - click here
