Orange County DA Introduces New Team to Address Illegal E-Bike and E-Motorcycle Use

Surge in E-Bike and E-Motorcycle Injuries Prompt Creation of Specialized Prosecution Unit

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has reported a staggering 430% increase in injuries associated with e-bikes and e-motorcycles in Southern California over the past year. In response to this alarming trend, the District Attorney’s Office has established a specialized prosecution unit aimed at tackling the rising number of deaths and injuries linked to the illegal use of these vehicles, particularly among minors.

The newly formed unit, dubbed RIDE SAFELY (Smart Accountability for e-bikes and e-motos and Law Enforcement for Youth), will focus on reviewing potential criminal cases involving both adults and parents who allow children to operate illegal e-motorcycles.

“The death and devastation caused by e-bikes and e-motorcycles has reached epidemic levels, and we, as elected officials, must do everything we can to save lives,” stated Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer.

Nationwide, over 100 fatalities have been connected to e-bikes and e-motorcycles, with injuries in Southern California markedly rising over the last four years. Recent data from the California Statewide Integrated Traffic Record System highlights a concerning trend: children aged 11 to 14 accounted for 61.7% of e-motorcycle crashes, despite state laws prohibiting riders younger than 16 from using these vehicles.

Since the year’s start, prosecutors have pressed child endangerment charges against three parents for permitting their children to ride e-motorcycles illegally. In a notable case, a mother faces involuntary manslaughter charges after her teenage son allegedly struck and killed an 81-year-old Vietnam veteran while riding an illegal e-motorcycle. If convicted, she faces a potential sentence of up to seven years and eight months in state prison.

Similarly, felony charges were filed against a Yorba Linda father after his 12-year-old son suffered critical injuries when he ran a red light, colliding with a car while riding a modified e-motorcycle capable of reaching speeds up to 60 mph. The father could face up to six years in prison if convicted on all counts.

“If parents refuse to hold their children accountable, then I am going to hold parents accountable when they knowingly break the law,” Spitzer emphasized. “These vehicles are not child’s play, and we are going to protect Orange County streets one prosecution at a time.”

Under California law, electric bicycles are classified based on motor power, maximum speed, and whether they have operable pedals. Generally, vehicles exceeding 750 watts of power or traveling faster than 20 mph on motor power alone are categorized as e-motorcycles.

In a related development, California Attorney General Rob Bonta recently issued a consumer alert regarding the safety laws surrounding e-bikes, underscoring that two-wheeled vehicles exceeding certain speed thresholds are classified as mopeds or motorcycles, which require different licensing and age requirements for operation and sale.

Adding to these regulatory measures, Amazon announced plans to halt the sales of certain e-bikes in California, reflecting a growing awareness of the potential dangers associated with these high-speed electric vehicles.

The RIDE SAFELY unit will consist of prosecutors from the District Attorney’s Juvenile Justice, Community Outreach, and Family Protection units. This collaborative effort aims to work closely with law enforcement agencies to evaluate cases involving e-bikes and e-motorcycles, determining the appropriate legal actions to take.