Houston City Council voted unanimously to approve a ban on electric scooters, outdoor bikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) during the nights on Houston’s city streets.
The vote happened Wednesday morning and adopted new regulations that leaders in the city believe were urgently needed to address mounting safety problems downtown and across Houston.
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The ordinance will prohibit operating or renting micromobility devices and ATVs on public rights-of-way between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. citywide.
It also allows police and city regulators to impound illegally operated or parked scooters, establishes fees, and creates penalties for violations.
The curfew window stems from Houston Fire Department data showing that 78% of EMS calls related to downtown micromobility incidents occurred between the hours of 8 p.m. and 4 a.m.
Key provisions in the new ordinance
- A nightly ban on operating or renting micromobility devices and off-highway vehicles on public rights-of-way from 8 p.m. – 4 a.m.
- A prohibition on renting scooters and ATVs from temporary structures at any time.
- Exemptions for certain commuting uses of personally owned devices.
- New offenses and penalties for violations.
- Authority for HPD and ARA to impound devices and assess fees.
- A hearing process for scooter owners to contest impoundment.
- Updated fee schedules for scooter impoundment and storage.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire emphasized the importance of getting these new laws in place for the safety of Houstonians.
“Discovery Green has hired extra law enforcement and here is a problem, members... they run from the police. And HPD is not going to chase someone on a scooter,” Whitmire said during Wednesday’s meeting.
Leaders added that scooter and ATV issues have also frustrated downtown hotels and businesses, which report increasing disorder and crime associated with late-night activity.
Houston has already spent years enforcing existing scooter rules.
Between 2021 and 2025, HPD and ARA seized 129 scooters, impounded 74, issued more than 3,000 rider warnings, and made eight arrests. Officers also recovered five guns during scooter-related enforcement.
“It’s a huge safety risk. So, [riders] know, just take off and there will be no enforcement,” Whitmire added.
Councilmember Mario Ramirez initially tagged the item, delaying a vote.
In response, Councilmember Julian Martinez vowed to make a rare motion to override the tag, citing heightened public-safety concerns and downtown businesses’ complaints. Martinez argued that council could not wait two weeks, the next time it would convene, because of the seriousness of the issue.
The mayor responded to the debate by asking for a 15-minute recess to find consensus, noting that Houston is entering a busy holiday stretch with Thanksgiving and Christmas looming.
Ramirez returned and released his tag after receiving assurances that the council will hold a committee meeting in December to take public comment and consider possible adjustments or amendments to the ordinance.
Whitmire said he will participate in the hearing and wants all stakeholders involved.
With the vote now complete, the ordinance takes effect even as council prepares for its December review, where members say they will continue gathering input from residents, businesses and scooter operators on potential refinements.