Overview
- Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer created the RIDE SAFELY prosecution unit on Wednesday to review cases involving illegal electric two‑wheelers and to consider charges for adults, including parents who allow underage riding.
- Prosecutors say they have filed cases against three parents since January, including involuntary manslaughter for a mother after her 14‑year‑old allegedly struck and killed an 81‑year‑old man while riding an electric motorcycle.
- Amazon is removing high‑speed listings and blocking California sales of models that exceed state limits following April’s consumer alert from Attorney General Rob Bonta clarifying what counts as an e‑bike versus a moped or motorcycle.
- California law caps e‑bikes at 20 mph on throttle and 28 mph with pedal assist and generally 750 watts of motor power, and devices beyond those limits require registration, a license, and riders who are at least 16.
- A regional safety push is growing as a Huntington Beach symposium drew more than 200 people, injury data show a 430% four‑year jump with over 100 deaths nationwide, and lawmakers are advancing bills to add registration plates and lower speeds for youth‑rideable models.