Teens as young as 16 can now legally ride e-scooters on Hinsdale's streets. But if they ride one on the sidewalk, they're breaking state law.

Illinois Senate Bill 3484, the statewide Micromobility Bill, took effect July 1, replacing the patchwork of local e-bike and e-scooter ordinances that Hinsdale and other suburbs had crafted on their own. The new law supersedes the village's stricter rules, which the Hinsdale Police Department had been actively enforcing with citations carrying fines up to $750 and mandatory court appearances for parents.

Because state law preempts local ordinances, Hinsdale's old e-scooter rules are no longer enforceable. The Hinsdale Journal sought comment from the Hinsdale Police Department on whether it has updated its enforcement guidance under SB 3484 and has not received a response. As of July 2, the Village of Hinsdale website still displays the department's March 31 ordinance guide, which references the old age and sidewalk rules.

Here's what changed for Hinsdale riders as of July 1:

E-scooter minimum age drops from 18 to 16. Under Hinsdale's old ordinance, no one under 18 could operate an e-scooter. The state law lowers that threshold to 16.

Sidewalk riding is now banned statewide. This is a reversal for Hinsdale. The village's prior rules permitted adults to ride e-scooters on most sidewalks at up to 10 mph. Under SB 3484, e-scooters are prohibited from all sidewalks across Illinois. The old Business District ban is now redundant; the statewide prohibition is broader.

High-speed device rules come later. E-bikes and e-motos (electric motorcycles) capable of exceeding 28 mph will require a driver's license, title, registration, and insurance beginning January 1, 2027. Brands like Surron and Talaria remain prohibited on public ways under both the old Hinsdale ordinance and the new state framework, according to the village's March 31 guide.

What the Hinsdale Police Department has said

The department's most recent public guidance, published March 31, warned parents to "evaluate any products you or your child currently have and ensure they comply with local and state requirements." That guide also stated the department would continue issuing citations to parents or guardians for violations, with penalties including mandatory court appearances and fines up to $750.

Those warnings were written under the old local ordinance. Whether the department will issue new guidance reflecting the state law's different age thresholds and sidewalk rules has not been announced.

State says education before tickets

Axios Chicago reported that state officials plan to focus on education rather than strict enforcement in the early months of the new law, particularly around age limits and sidewalk riding. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, who championed SB 3484, said the law responds to a 300 percent increase in micromobility-related injuries and fatalities nationwide between 2019 and 2022.

"When injuries and fatalities are surging and with some e-bikes, e-motos and e-scooters traveling faster than 50 miles per hour, ignoring the problem is not an option," Giannoulias said.

What parents should know heading into July 4

With Hinsdale's Fourth of July Parade and celebration scheduled for Saturday, July 4, families should know: 16- and 17-year-olds may now ride e-scooters on village roads, but no one may ride an e-scooter on any sidewalk. The statewide sidewalk ban applies everywhere in the village, including around the downtown parade route.