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Criminal & traffic law

Skateboards, scooters and mobility devices

Overview

Riding skateboards and scooters on roads and footpaths

Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004, rule 11.1

If you ride a skateboard or a scooter (the small-wheeled, unpowered type of scooter) or use in-line skates, you have to follow these rules:

  • if you’re riding on the road, you have to keep as close as possible to the edge of the road
  • on the footpath, you must be careful and considerate and not be a hazard to others. You have to give way to pedestrians and people on mobility scooters.

Unlike cyclists, you don’t have to wear a helmet or use lights at night if you’re riding a skateboard or scooter.

Skating in malls, parks and other public places

Local councils also often have specific bylaws about skateboarding in public places like town squares – for example:

Wellington Consolidated Bylaw 2008, Part 5: Public Places

  • Wellington City Council bylaws allows skateboards and skates to be used in public places (like urban parks and squares) unless there’s a sign there saying otherwise. But you have to show reasonable consideration for other people there, and make sure you don’t damage council property (bench seats for example).

Auckland Council Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw 2013, clause 6(1)(c)

  • Auckland Council bylaws say that skateboards and other skaters in public places can’t be reckless or ride in a way that could be dangerous, intimidating or a nuisance.

Mobility scooters

Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004, rule 11.1

If you ride a mobility scooter, you can’t ride on any part of the road if you’re able to ride on the footpath. If you do need to ride it on the road, you have to keep as close as possible to the edge of the road.

When you’re riding your mobility scooter on the footpath, you must be careful and considerate and not be a hazard to others. Skateboarders on the footpath have to give way to you.

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Driving and traffic law

Where to go for more support

Community Law

www.communitylaw.org.nz

Your local Community Law Centre can provide free initial legal advice and information.

Applying for a limited licence” (guide)

This Plain English guide, plus template application forms and affidavits, will help you apply for a limited licence. It’s available on the Community Law website – www.communitylaw.org.nz

New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA)

www.nzta.govt.nz

Phone: 0800 699 000
Email: info@nzta.govt.nz

The NZTA site provides a wide range of driving and road safety information, including on topics covered in this chapter.

You can read and download fact sheets and other publications from their site, or you can order hard copies by contacting them, including their fact-sheet on Legal mobile phone use while driving.

www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/Safety/docs/legal-mobile-phone-use-while-driving-fact-sheet-june-2020.pdf

NZ Police

Frequently Asked Questions

www.police.govt.nz/advice/faq

The “Driving/road safety” and “Tickets/infringements” section of this webpage have Frequently Asked Questions about traffic fines, speeding, demerit points and where you can pay your fines.

Consumer protection

“Parking, towing and clamping”

www.consumerprotection.govt.nz/help-product-service/cars/parking-clamping-towing

This Consumer Protection webpage has information about the law covering tow trucks and wheel-clamping on public and private property, and about unreasonable fees in private car parks.

Also available as a book

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