Here is the file for the proposed ordinance (https://sfgov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4160578&GUID=A34634A0-B49E-4ED1-86A0-675FBF5A3476 https://sfgo

Here is the file for the proposed ordinance (https://sfgov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4160578&GUID=A34634A0-B49E-4ED1-86A0-675FBF5A3476 https://sfgov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4160578...). Any company operating an “Emerging Technology Device” is required to apply for a $2,006 permit prior to operating on sidewalks and public rights of way, and these devices are limited to 3mph, are prohibited from parking on the sidewalk, and are required to operate only on sidewalks wider than 6ft. Any violations are subject to $1,000 per day administrative fine, $500 per day civil penalties, and up to $500 per day criminal penalties. The definition of “Emerging Technology” means any new technology which has characteristics including a “beta” label or absence of a federal or state safety certification. The permit application is subject to a public hearing. The OET Director is required to evaluate, e.g., “effects… on public health, safety, welfare, and convenience,” “whether the Emerging Technology … are likely to have a measurable economic and/or social impact in the three- to ten-year period following the use,” “effects … on the labor market,” etc., and the OET Director may reject applications on the basis of these potential impacts. In my opinion, this definition of “Emerging Technology” is vague and expansive enough that Public Works employees could give you a $1000 ticket for playing Pokémon Go, wearing Google Glass, operating an electric skateboard, or perhaps even vaping. The author, Norman Yee, is the councilman who in May 2017 became alarmed at autonomous delivery robots on the sidewalks and introduced an ordinance that required delivery robot startups to apply for a permit, capped them to 9 testing robots per permit, and required an operator to be present at all times (https://sfbos.org/sites/default/files/o0244-17.pdf https://sfbos.org/sites/default/files/o0244-17.pdf). Relatedly, councilman Aaron Peskin introduced ordinances to require permits for bike rentals on the sidewalk in Feb. 2017 (https://sfbos.org/sites/default/files/o0081-17.pdf https://sfbos.org/sites/default/files/o0081-17.pdf) and for scooter rentals on the sidewalk in March 2018 (https://sfbos.org/sites/default/files/o0099-18.pdf https://sfbos.org/sites/default/files/o0099-18.pdf).