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Comment by WhatsName | Hacker News Reader

It seems in the US regulations seem to be spun as something negative by all major news outlets.

For me this reads like sensible government policy at work. If the fines of cleanup eat into profits and are not just a minuscule cost of doing business, they set it just right instead of plain forbid it outright.

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Yep, weird, especially when these same companies require more sensible behaviour from users in other jurisdiction in response to laws.

Sensible policy that driving a scooter on the sidewalk gets you 5x the fine that driving a car on the sidewalk would? Holding the companies responsible for users of rental scooters actions but not users of rental cars is sensible policy?

That kind of whataboutism just convinces me that the fines for driving cars on the sidewalk should be higher, yes.

Is driving of rental cars on sidewalks really that big of a problem there to make that comparison?

Yes. Both of these are sensible because our spaces and regulations are already better set up for cars, and the scooter companies are deliberately introducing technology that they know (or should know) increase unexpected danger. Thus, the costs should fall on them.

The details aren't perfect, but the idea is generally good.

I have a feeling if you as an individual started driving on the sidewalks multiple times receiving multiple fines that the state would quickly remove your privilege to drive and if you continued, would imprison you.

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