E-BIKE
- No license · no plate §24016(b)
- Class 1, 2 or 3 (box 3)
Interactive E-Bike Check
The decision to warn, cite or take no action is solely at the discretion of the officer.
Needs signal.
App updated.
Details and laws
Reading the label...
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Label shows:
Class
Motor watts (W)
rated, not peak
Top assisted speed
You said:
nothing else
Label read:
Label typed:
Read the law (new tab)
Definitions
Possible offenses
Removal
Procedure
1THE 5-QUESTION FIELD CHECK
- What is it? Pedals? Seat? Plate? → e-bike, moped, motorcycle or scooter
- What does the label say? Class 1, 2 or 3 — and does the bike match it?
- How old is the rider? Under 16 on a Class 3? Unlicensed on a moped, motorcycle or scooter?
- Helmet on? Under 18 on Class 1/2 or a scooter · everyone on a Class 3, moped or motorcycle
- Cite, tow or stop talk?
2WHAT IS IT? — KNOW IT BY SHAPE
MOPED
MOTORCYCLE
- No pedals · over 30 mph
- M1 license §12500(b) · registered §4000(a)(1) · plate on rear §5200(b)
- Helmet, all §27803(b)
SCOOTER
No pedals = never an e-bike §312.5(a) · Age (moped, motorcycle): 15½ permit · 16 license §12509.5 · Scooter: needs a driver's license or permit §21235(d) · Watts, not volts
3E-BIKE CLASSES— working pedals + motor 750 W or less §312.5(a) · no license · no plate §24016(b)
- Class 1
- Motor
- Pedal-assist only*
- Stops helping at
- 20 mph
- Min. age
- None
- Helmet
- Under 18 §21212(a)
- Class 2
- Motor
- Throttle · pedal-assist optional
- Stops helping at
- 20 mph
- Min. age
- None
- Helmet
- Under 18 §21212(a)
- Class 3
*No throttle; start or walk assist to 3.7 mph OK §312.5(a)(4). Class 1 never had one; SB 1271 (eff. 2025) ended Class 3 throttles (older ones: follow policy). Label §312.5(c) is the maker’s duty; a missing label alone isn’t a rider violation. Class definitions §312.5(a)(1)-(3).
4IMPOUND — PICK THE RIGHT LAW
- Legal e-bike, legal riderNO TOW no license or plate needed
- Class 3, rider under 16§22651.08(a)(2) · 48 hr
- Not an e-bike, motor-only over 20, unlicensed§22651.08(a)(1) · 48 hr
- Moped or motorcycle, cited for no license§22651(p) · release with license + reg.
- Scooter, no valid license or permitCite §21235(d) · per policy
48 hr = minimum hold; release on a request in business hours, costs paid · §22651(p): not if impounded under §22655.5 · 30-day impound (§14602.6) is separate and not automatic: the owner can ask for a storage hearing §14602.6(b).
5JAILBROKEN E-BIKE — SPOT · IDENTIFY · CITE · TOW
1 · Spot
Too fast without pedaling · Class 1/3 throttle · bad label
2 · Identify
FBI: Frame · Battery · Illegal add-ons. Photograph it.
3 · Cite
4 · Tow
Only if every condition in box 4 is true §22651.08(a)(1) · 48 hr min · costs paid to release
6COMMON VIOLATIONS
- Ran a stop sign, red light or red arrow§22450(a) · §21453(a) · §21453(c)
- No helmet, under 18 (any bicycle, Class 1/2)§21212(a)
- No helmet, Class 3 (any age, incl. passenger)§21213(b)
- Under 16 on a Class 3§21213(a)
- Passenger without a separate seat (age 4 or under, or 40 lb or less: a seat that holds them in and guards the moving parts)§21204(b)
- No front white light after dark (any bicycle; a white light worn by the rider, visible 300 ft ahead and to the sides, counts)§21201(d), §21201(e)
- E-bike with no rear red reflector, or red light with built-in reflector, day or night§21201(f)
- Earbuds in or over BOTH ears (one is legal; hearing protectors excepted)§27400
- Riding against traffic (on the roadway or shoulder)§21650.1
- Riding under the influence (bike or e-bike)§21200.5
- Wheelie or stunt in traffic → may be reckless driving§23103(a) via §21200(a)
- Tampering to change speed (unless still legal + relabeled)§24016(d)
- E-bike on an equestrian, hiking or recreational trail where a local ordinance bans it§21207.5(b) + local code (state park paths and trails: §21207.5(c))
- Moped (motorized bicycle) on an off-street bike path or trail, unless next to a roadway or allowed locally§21207.5(a) · on-street bike lanes are OK §21209(b)
- Sidewalk: e-bike — city decides · scooter — only to enter/exit property§21206 · §21235(g)
Jan. 1, 2027 (AB 2346): 10 mph prima facie limit on sidewalks §22352.1, unless posted.
7INVESTIGATING A MODIFIED E-BIKE
- 1 · Observe: speed · pedaling or not · throttle use
- 2 · Label: present · genuine · matches the bike
- 3 · Bike: motor watts · new controller · big battery
- 4 · Settings: “off-road” mode · limit above 20/28
- 5 · Ask: Who changed it? How fast does it go?
- 6 · Look up: model spec sheet on your phone
- 7 · Document: photos of label, motor, battery, display
- 8 · Decide: not §312.5(a) now? Moped/motorcycle rules, §24016(d), tow · seller §24016(e)
Juveniles: before any custodial interrogation, a youth 17 or under must consult an attorney W&I §625.6(a). Subd. (c): the rule does not govern admissibility if you reasonably believed the questions were needed to protect life or property from an imminent threat and asked only those.
8THE 30-SECOND STOP TALK
- Ask: “What were you thinking?”
- Check: “What could have happened?”
- Commit: “What will you do next time?”
Let them answer — kids keep what they say.