Tampa Issues Over 2,000 Fines Following New E-Scooter and Bike Regulations

Tampa Issues Over 2,000 Fines Following New E-Scooter and Bike Regulations - Property Records of Florida - 1 (800) 880-7954

Just a few months ago, electric scooters and e-bikes were often found thrown carelessly into rivers, left on Bayshore Boulevard, or abandoned in parking garages. This was a big problem. However, the City of Tampa introduced new regulations in April to tackle this issue. Now, if riders park these vehicles improperly, they have to pay fines.

Austin Britt, who oversees parking and micro-mobility for Tampa, explained how the new system works. Every time someone parks a scooter or bike incorrectly, they get charged extra fees. This method seems to be effective. Since the rules were put into place, more people are parking their scooters and bikes correctly—away from sidewalks and areas meant for walking. Austin noted that the number of fines issued in April was 1,100, and this increased to 1,200 in May. He sees this as a sign of improvement.

Additionally, a volunteer group called “Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful” has been involved in cleaning up the local waters. They recently removed several scooters and bikes from around the city. While it’s unfortunate that these vehicles were in the water, the group noticed that there were fewer of them since the new rules were implemented. Austin is encouraged by this progress.

It’s important to note that while the city is responsible for enforcing these fines, they don’t collect the money themselves. Each company that rents out the scooters and bikes, like Lyft, Lime, and Spin, is responsible for setting and collecting these fines.