Santa Clarita’s e-bike debate heads to the City Council on Tuesday - with proposed fines, a way for residents to report problem riders, and an acknowledgment that some options are limited by county and state law.
Complaints about e-bikes and e-motorcycles have climbed for more than a year, the city says - riders ignoring posted speed limits or weaving through pedestrian traffic on streets and paseos. The city has run outreach events and enforcement operations and met with school districts, the Sheriff’s Station and the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office.
“Community feedback emphasized the importance of promoting safe riding behaviors and holding individuals accountable for violations rather than broadly restricting e-bike use,” according to the findings in Tuesday’s agenda.
What’s on the table:
Escalating administrative fines: “Violations would be subject to administrative fines of $200 for a first violation, $300 for a second violation, and $500 for a third and subsequent violation,” per the agenda.
A city-maintained “community reporting program” where residents could log a location, time, date and description of violations - building a record for law enforcement and for any future injury case.
What the city says it can’t do: seize bikes for keeps. “While state law provides certain vehicle seizure and impoundment authorities for qualifying street racing offenses, permanent forfeiture is subject to additional legal requirements and is not available for routine e-bike or e-motorcycle violations,” the agenda states. Expanding that would take a change in state law. Holding minors and their parents accountable for repeat violations is another challenge flagged in the city’s talks with the DA’s office.
Sacramento has moved on its own this year. New laws signed by Gov. Newsom include a statewide e-bike safety and training program for grades 7-12 (AB 1569), new equipment rules like speedometers and lighting plus local speed limits on bike paths (AB 2346), and tighter labeling and marketing rules so buyers can tell legal e-bikes from overpowered lookalikes (SB 1167).
Tuesday’s meeting starts at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Blvd.