Most haven't actually. The modus operandi of the scooter companies seems to be:

1. Drop a load of scooters around town in the middle of the night

2. Wait for the city to take notice

3. Apply for permit after the fact

They're very much in the "Easier to ask forgiveness than permission" game right now.

They don't. They flout the law like many SV app companies do. Uber, AirBNB, etc. The scooters are just the next thing. They're going to argue plenty, but I hope to see their street trash mass auctioned to the highest bidder from the impound lots.