In response to a surge in collisions and injuries involving electric bicycles, several cities in Orange County are tightening regulations on e-bikes and similar electric wheeled vehicles. This trend is particularly focused on youth riders, as e-bikes have become a popular mode of transportation for getting to school and around town.
The Placentia City Council recently voted unanimously to prohibit dangerous e-bike riding behaviors, such as wheelies and stunts, and outlined rules for police officers to impound e-bikes and hold parents accountable for their children’s actions. This move follows similar actions by officials in Buena Park, Fullerton, and Irvine, as reported by the Children’s Hospital of Orange County, which has seen a sharp increase in e-bike-related emergency room trauma activations over the past few years.
Placentia’s New E-Bike Regulations
Frank Garza, a traffic sergeant with the Placentia Police Department, emphasized that the city is aligning with other municipalities in addressing the growing use of electric mobility devices. “We’re not alone in taking this step,” Garza stated during a previous council meeting in May. He noted that several Orange County agencies and cities have adopted similar ordinances in response to the same concerns.
During a special meeting on June 30, Garza explained that Placentia has tailored its regulations based on practices from other cities, taking into account local conditions. “We don’t have the same issues as Huntington Beach or the beach cities that have the boardwalks and everything else,” he said. “We don’t even have specific issues like Brea, that has their own pathways and trails, and Yorba Linda.”
School District Bans and Legal Consequences
The Newport-Mesa Unified School District has also taken action by banning e-bikes for thousands of students ahead of the fall school year. Starting in the fall, only high school students who complete a training program will be permitted to ride e-bikes to school. E-bikes will be prohibited on campuses for all other students.
This crackdown comes as Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer announced the formation of an e-bike/e-motorcycle unit to review potential criminal charges against youth and adults, including parents who knowingly allow their children to ride illegal e-motorcycles. This development followed the case of an Orange County mother charged with involuntary manslaughter for allegedly allowing her 14-year-old son to illegally operate an e-motorcycle. The boy struck an 81-year-old man and fled the scene, resulting in the man’s death two weeks later.
Understanding E-Bike Classes and Regulations
Standard e-bikes are categorized into three classes. Class one e-bikes can reach speeds of 20 mph and require the user to pedal to operate with an electric boost. Class two e-bikes also go up to 20 mph but have a throttle that can be operated without pedaling. Class three e-bikes can reach speeds of up to 28 mph and also require the user to pedal to operate. E-motorcycles, on the other hand, do not have pedals and require the rider to have a valid motorcycle license to operate legally.
In Placentia, city officials are regulating e-bikes and electric scooters to address increasing safety concerns related to speed, unsafe riding behaviors, and conflicts with pedestrians and vehicles. The ordinance allows police officers to seize e-bikes and other motorized mobility devices if cyclists are riding in a dangerous manner or if the electric device is illegal. Parents or legal guardians could be held responsible to ensure minors follow the rules, with fines ranging from $100 for the first violation to $500 for each additional violation within one year.
Officers may impound motorized mobility devices if they have probable cause to believe that a minor violated the new regulations in a way that creates an immediate or substantial risk to public safety. This includes reckless driving that creates an immediate hazard, willful disregard for traffic laws, group riding that obstructs traffic, and operation of devices in prohibited areas when pedestrians are present. Devices will be held for a minimum of 48 hours without the option of paying a fine for early release and will be released to the parent or legal guardian.
Under the new rules, all operators under the age of 18 have to wear helmets, but riders with a class three e-bike have to wear a helmet regardless of age. Riders can use e-bikes of any class on public roadways and in bike lanes. There will be a 15 mph speed limit for e-bikes on multi-use trails and recreational paths, and a speed limit of 10 mph in school zones. E-bikes and other electric mobility devices would also be prohibited on athletic fields, sports courts, and city parks.
Mayor Chad Wanke expressed his support for the new regulations, stating, “I’m glad that we’re doing this. It’s long overdue.” He emphasized the need to crack down on unsafe e-bike behavior, noting that it is getting worse rather than better.
