Houston Approves Citywide Nighttime Curfew on Electric Scooters

As a result of growing public safety worries about late-night riding in the downtown area, the Houston City Council voted Wednesday to ban the use and rental of electric scooters throughout the city from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Mayor John Whitmire said that the increase in bike use at night has become "one of the city's No. 1 security risks." He said this because hotels, convention centers, and other places near Discovery Green and the George R. Brown Convention Center kept complaining about it. Whitmire told the council, "Not only are Houston First's activities in danger, but so are Discovery Green, our hotels, and our sports venues."

The new law says that riding or renting an electric scooter or other micromobility device after dark is illegal in the city, except for people traveling, first responders, and people in emergencies. Penalties of up to $500 and detention may happen for breaking the rules. Off-road vehicles, such as ATVs, are also subject to the curfew. Pop-up rental stands that are only there for a short time are no longer allowed. Only sellers with permanent stores can now offer rentals.

The measure replaces an earlier plan to ban scooters in certain areas of downtown, Midtown, and East Downtown. After months of public comments calling for the city to protect passenger access while limiting late-night "joyriding," officials changed the rule to a time-based one.

From 2021 to 2025, city police records show they seized 129 scooters, impounded 74 others, and issued more than 3,000 rider warnings. Along with seizing five guns and arresting eight people, police also found no deaths related to scooter use during that time. The law comes at a time when Houston is still struggling with road safety. Last year, 345 people were killed on area streets, which was a record high.

Council Member Julian Ramirez asked for a two-week delay because the city released the final wording of the ordinance just a few days before the vote. Whitmire and a few other council members pushed back, saying that waiting would make things less safe during the busy holiday season. Council Member Joaquin Martinez stressed that he would ignore Ramirez's tag if needed.

After a short break, Ramirez took back his move, saying that Whitmire agreed to hold a public hearing in early December with the Quality of Life Committee.

Responses to the ruling were mixed. Houston First, which oversees the city's tourism, pushed for quick approval. Michigan's president and CEO, Michael Heckman, said that people are renting scooters downtown "for fun and often mischievous use around areas not meant for motorized scooters." But supporters of the movement said the process was too quick. Someone from the Greater Third Ward Super Neighborhood, Ed Pettitt, said the curfew could lead to more "pretextual policing."

Jake Cooper, the founder of Rent EBoards, said the less strict ordinance was "a step in the right direction," but that safety problems should be addressed through proper regulation, not a curfew. He said, "Ideally, you would not need a curfew." "As long as they are safe and responsible, people should be able to ride whenever they want."

The Quality of Life Committee will likely review the rules again in early December and consider making changes after hearing from the public.

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