Electric Scooters are legal - within the relevant regulations
Arkansas continues to operate under the Electric Motorized Scooter Act (Act 1015 of 2019).
As a private electric scooter owner and rider you are legal to operate your vehicle (ideally a Bo Model M ) on the road under broadly the same regulations as an e-bike.
The act provides a state-wide framework. It does grant cities significant power to tighten restrictions, however in 2025/6 that is only relevant for the distinction between shared (rental) and personally owned scooters. In certain areas there are local restrictions on rental fleets.
Regulations on rider age and license requirements:
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Minimum Age: You must be at least 16 years old to operate an electric scooter on public streets.
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Licensing: While state law generally does not require a specialized driver’s license for e-scooters, it is worth noting that there is ongoing debate in local courts regarding "motor-driven cycle" classifications.
As of late 2025, a standard driver's license is not required for personal e-scooter use, but you must carry a valid ID.
Equipment and Speed Limits
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Weight & Power: To qualify as an electric scooter, the device must weigh less than 100 lbs and be powered by a motor of less than 750 watts.
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Speed: While the device may be capable of 20 mph, state law mandates an operating speed limit of 15 mph. That means - just like driving a car - you need to stick to the limit.
Exceeding 15 mph on public infrastructure can result in a speeding citation similar to a motor vehicle. -
Night Riding: Front white lamps and rear red lamps (or reflectors) are mandatory.
Helmet Laws
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Personal Scooters: There is no state-wide helmet mandate for adults on personal scooters.
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Shared Scooters: Riders under 18 are strictly required to wear a helmet when using scooters on shared rental programs (e.g., Lime, Veo).
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State Parks Exception: A 2025 rule update (22 CAR § 50-121) allowed motorized scooters in Arkansas State Parks, and mandates helmets for all riders under 16.
Permitted Riding Areas
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Roadways: Permitted on streets with a speed limit of 35 mph or less. Riders must stay as far to the right as practicable.
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Sidewalks: This is strictly local. In Little Rock, riding on sidewalks in the downtown commercial district is prohibited.
In Fayetteville, sidewalk riding is allowed except on those that "abut a building face". This is to protect pedestrians stepping out of doorways. -
State Parks: Use is limited to paved park roads between sunrise and sunset.
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 Arkansas, 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
