The Daily News reached out to the 26th Precinct and was told that as of now, hoverboards are legal and people riding them won’t receive a fine.
Advertisement
A few NYPD officers aren’t even sure what to make of it. Gothamist cited a report by CBS NY, in which one officer said the police just didn’t know, because it was “new technology”.
@NYPD26Pct via Twitter NYPD 26th Precinct tweeted that hoverboards are illegal in the city, but then deleted the tweet Wednesday.
The NYC Department of Transportation, however, has landed on firmer ground when it comes to rules surrounding hoverboards-they told us that these devices are in fact illegal. In my book, a hoverboard is what Marty McFly rode in Back to the Future: Part II.
Anyone concerned about American or United Kingdom hoverboard statutes might try AirWheel’s “hover box,” which is basically just a box shielding the reason your feet seem to be floating from the prying eyes of the local law.
Whatever we do call them, the boards were – according to the original tweet – considered illegal under section 19-176.2 of the city’s legal code.
“For the purposes of this section, the term “motorized scooter” shall not include electric powered devices not capable of exceeding fifteen miles per hour…” Regardless, it’s probably a good idea to ride your hoverboard inside instead of on the streets to avoid having it impounded or getting stuck with a $500 fine.
So are they illegal or not?
So not the handlebar-free thing pictured in the NYPD tweet?
For now, NYCers, ride at your own risk. Wheeee! But they aren’t, no matter what you think you saw on Buzzfeed.
Advertisement
To miss that, dear readers, would be a true tragedy.
