Your Cool Futuristic “Hoverboard” Is Illegal In NYC

On Monday, New York’s 26th Precinct, which is located in Harlem, tweeted a warning to citizens that hoverboards were illegal, citing a code that mentioned electric scooters with handlebars. The city’s Department of Transportation does consider hoverboards motor vehicles, and any motor vehicle that can not be registered with the NY State is illegal to ride in any area that allows registered motor vehicle traffic, including streets, sidewalks, highways, parking lots. The tweet was later taken down, but Gothamist managed to snag a screen grab, which included the hashtags #Morningside #Harlem #Christmas. Perhaps this is a message to the children of officers that they may be receiving confiscated hoverboards under the tree this year.

But it’s not that simple.

“Oddly it would appear that “this section” of the law does not include wheelchairs, mobility aids for the disabled, or “‘electric personal assistive mobility devices’ defined as self-balancing, two non-tandem wheeled devices created to transport one person by means of an electric propulsion system”. The name of these devices is still up for debate – causing more legal confusion – although the most common name comes from one brand name called “Hoverboard 360”. Most hoverboards have a max speed of something like 6 miles per hour. However, the law on using hoverboards in rest of the U.S. is still not clear.

So which one is it?

This would suggest that they ARE legal, but before you get too excited (and confused), the NYC Department of Transportation has confirmed to Gothamist that they are illegal.

“They are not considered motor vehicles so they can not be registered”, a DMV spokeswoman told CNNMoney.

Do you think its excessive?