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A 17-year-old boy was cited by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office after allegedly riding an unregistered electric motorcycle more than 40 mph on a sidewalk in Granite Bay earlier this month, while deputies continue to search for a second rider.
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Electric motorcycles, unlike e-bikes, are intended for off-road use and cannot be operated on public streets. They require registration and a licensed driver. When used on public lands, e-motorcycles also must display an identification plate or device issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles, deputies said in a news release Tuesday.
About 6:30 p.m. June 12, members of the Sheriff’s Office Strategic Response Team spotted the riders headed toward a Taco Bell near Sierra College and Douglas boulevards. Deputies were conducting an e-bike enforcement operation in the area, according to a Tuesday news release.
The riders sped away after deputies attempted to contact them, reaching speeds of more than 40 mph while riding on a sidewalk, the release said.
The riders split up near Granite Bay High School. Deputies detained the 17-year-old near Eureka Elementary School after he allegedly attempted to hide the electric motorcycle, deputies said. The motorcycle was impounded.
Deputies cited the 17-year-old on suspicion of reckless driving, operating an unregistered vehicle and driving without a license and notified his parents, the release said.
Deputies are continuing to search for the second rider.
“We encourage parents to know what’s legal and what’s not,” deputies said in the release. “E-motorcycles are not bicycles. They are motor vehicles and must be registered, insured, and operated by a licensed driver.”
Electric vehicle usage on the rise
The citation and search come amid growing popularity of e-motorcycles and e-bikes across the capital region, as well as an increase in reports of injuries.
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Last September, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with nearby agencies, made 183 stops, issued 30 citations and impounded 25 e-motorcycles during a three-day e-bike and e-moto enforcement effort in Granite Bay and parts of Roseville.
At the time, deputies said e-bikes and e-motorcycles were a “growing concern” in Placer County, citing reckless riding by juveniles and illegal use of e-motorcycles.
Other capital region law enforcement agencies have also taken steps to address the increase in incidents involving electric bikes and motorcycles, issuing citations or adopting local ordinances governing their use.
Not every electric ride is an e-bike
California law draws a clear line between legal e-bikes and faster electric vehicles based on how they provide power and their maximum assisted speed. Electric motorcycles, often called e-motos, and stand-up scooters follow different rules, including licensing, registration and where they may legally operate.
- Pedals
- Yes
- Throttle
- No
- Assistance
- Pedal-assist
- Top speed
- 20 mph
- Motor limit
- 750 watts
- Min. age to ride
- None
- Helmet req.
- If under 18
- Driver’s license
- No
- Registration
- No
- Pedals
- Yes
- Throttle
- Yes
- Assistance
- Throttle-assist
- Top speed
- 20 mph
- Motor limit
- 750 watts
- Min. age to ride
- None
- Helmet req.
- If under 18
- Driver’s license
- No
- Registration
- No
- Pedals
- Yes
- Throttle
- No*
- Assistance
- Pedal-assist*
- Top speed
- 28 mph
- Motor limit
- 750 watts
- Min. age to ride
- 16 years old
- Helmet req.
- For all riders
- Driver’s license
- No
- Registration
- No
- Pedals
- No
- Throttle
- Yes
- Assistance
- No
- Top speed
- Varies
- Motor limit
- >750 watts
- Min. age to ride
- 16 with license
- Helmet req.
- For all riders
- Driver’s license
- Yes
- Registration
- Yes†
- Pedals
- No
- Throttle
- Yes
- Assistance
- No
- Top speed
- Varies
- Motor limit
- N/A
- Min. age to ride
- 16 years old
- Helmet req.
- For all riders
- Driver’s license
- Yes
- Registration
- No
* California law defines Class 3 as pedal-assist. Some manufacturers sell Class 3 bikes with throttles limited to 20 mph, but the defining feature is pedal assistance up to 28 mph. † The DMV requires Off-Highway Vehicle registration; riders must possess a driver’s license.
Sources: California Department of Justice, Department of Motor Vehicles
Graphic: DANIEL HUNT • [email protected]
“We are seeing the most danger and having a lot of issues,” Sacramento County Sheriff’s Sgt. Jeremy Day previously told The Bee, “with the electric motorcycles.”
Unlike e-motos, e-bikes are legal, though their use is subject to different rules depending on their classification, which is based on maximum speed and other factors.
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