Laws by state / Louisiana
Louisiana
What Louisiana's statutes say about riding each kind of personal electric vehicle. Local rules can be stricter.
E-bikes
How the law defines it: Three-class system ("electric-assisted bicycle"): bicycle with a seat, working pedals and a motor under 750 W (two wheels at least 16 in., or three wheels at least 20 in.). Class one (pedal assist) and Class two (throttle) stop at 20 mph; Class three (pedal assist) at 28 mph. Not a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle.
Road
Allowed
Same rights and duties as bicycle riders; allowed on streets, highways and roadways.
Bike lane
Allowed
Allowed in bicycle lanes and facilities.
Sidewalk
Not addressed in statute
Not addressed in statute.
Paths and trails
Local rules decide
Allowed on shared-use trails and bike paths. After notice and a public hearing, the local or state agency may ban Class one/two for safety reasons; it may ban Class three outright. Natural-surface non-motorized trails are left to the managing agency.
- Helmet
- Class three: required for all operators and passengers. The general under-12 bicycle helmet law (R.S. 32:199) defines a bicycle as human-powered.
- Minimum age
- Class three: 12 (younger riders may be passengers on a Class three built for one). None for Class one/two.
- Speed limit or cap
- Motor assist stops at 20 mph (Class one/two) or 28 mph (Class three).
- Motor power cap
- Under 750 W
- License, registration, insurance
- Not a motor vehicle; no license, registration or insurance provisions apply.
- Also worth knowing
- Since Aug. 1, 2020 manufacturers must label class, top assisted speed and wattage; tampering that changes the class is barred unless relabeled.
Checked October 26, 2026
Statutes: La. R.S. 32:1(25); La. R.S. 32:1(50); La. R.S. 32:204; La. R.S. 32:199
- La. R.S. 32:204 (Electric-assisted bicycles)
- La. R.S. 32:1 (Definitions)
- La. R.S. 32:199 (Bicycle helmets)
E-scooters
Not addressed in statute. Not addressed in statute. Title 32 has no stand-up e-scooter definition. "Motor scooter" appears only within "motor driven cycle" (motorcycles and motor scooters up to 5 horsepower). We found no Louisiana statute that covers this vehicle by name or by a definition that clearly fits it. That isn't permission: police and cities may treat it under another category. R.S. 32:200 lets parishes and cities authorize "motor scooters" on sidewalks (20 mph max, daylight, age 8+, helmet under 18), but the statute does not say whether stand-up e-scooters are motor scooters. R.S. 32:300.5-300.8 were repealed by Acts 2025, No. 288; their former content was not reviewed.
Checked October 26, 2026
Statutes: La. R.S. 32:1(49); La. R.S. 32:200
- La. R.S. 32:1 (Definitions)
- La. R.S. 32:200 (Motor scooters on sidewalks)
- La. R.S. 32:300.5 (Repealed by Acts 2025, No. 288)
Electric boards (incl. Onewheel-style)
Not addressed in statute. We found no Louisiana statute that covers this vehicle by name or by a definition that clearly fits it. That isn't permission: police and cities may treat it under another category.
Checked October 26, 2026
Something wrong in this section? Tell us.Electric unicycles
Not addressed in statute. We found no Louisiana statute that covers this vehicle by name or by a definition that clearly fits it. That isn't permission: police and cities may treat it under another category. EPAMD rules cover only self-balancing devices with two side-by-side wheels, so electric unicycles are not covered.