Motorcycle and E-Bike Arrests in Los Angeles: What Parents Need to Know
Parents in Los Angeles face serious criminal charges, including involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment, related to kids electric bike incidents. Law enforcement has intensified its focus on illegal e-bikes, resulting in a rising number of citations and arrests throughout the county. What many parents don't realize is that purchasing or allowing their child to ride certain e-bikes can expose them to significant legal liability. Understanding California's e-bike classifications, power restrictions, and safety requirements is essential for anyone whose child rides an electric bike. This guide explains the legal landscape and how to protect your family.
The Current State of E-Bike Arrests in Los Angeles
Law enforcement agencies throughout Southern California have ramped up enforcement operations targeting illegal e-bike activity. The numbers tell a striking story about how quickly this issue has escalated.
Rising Number of Citations and Arrests
E-bike-related citations by the Orange County Sheriff's Department jumped to 259 in 2025, up from 173 the previous year. Manhattan Beach Police issued more than 115 e-bike-related citations to teens and adults so far this year, despite the city council approving stricter enforcement and raising fines in September. Hermosa Beach has impounded more than a dozen illegal electric motorcycles in recent months alone.
These figures represent only a fraction of actual enforcement activity. Injuries in Southern California have increased 430% over the last four years. More than 100 deaths nationwide have been linked to e-bikes and e-motorcycles. Data from the California Statewide Integrated Traffic Record System shows children ages 11 to 14 accounted for 61.7% of e-motorcycle crashes, despite California law prohibiting riders younger than 16 from operating e-motorcycles.
Types of Violations Leading to Arrests
The two most common tickets issued by Orange County Sheriff's Department are riding without a helmet and unsafe riding. Fines range from $200 to $1,000, depending on the violation.
One viral arrest captured on video shows the breadth of potential charges. The rider faced nine violations: evading a police officer, fleeing, violating municipal code rules, riding unsafely in a city park, operating a motorcycle without license plates, riding without a helmet, lacking a valid driver's or motorcycle license, failing to carry insurance and registration, and not having mirrors on the vehicle. His motorcycle was impounded on the spot.
Newport Beach police attempted to stop an underage rider on May 9 when they spotted him riding an illegal electric motorcycle. The boy fled from police and drove into opposing traffic at high speed, prompting officers to abandon the chase. He was later arrested at his home. Police stated they had previous encounters with him and would recommend charges against his mother.
Law Enforcement's Increased Focus on E-Bikes
Police agencies have launched public information campaigns and enforcement efforts targeting e-bikes and e-motorcycles this year. The LAPD purchased 20 pedal-assist bikes, creating the biggest fleet of police e-bikes in the country. Officers can travel as fast as 28 mph on these bikes, enabling them to easily keep up with traffic and respond faster than with regular bicycles.
Orange County created the RIDE SAFELY (Smart Accountability for e-bikes and e-motos and Law Enforcement for Youth) unit to address the growing number of deaths and injuries. This specialized prosecution unit reviews potential criminal cases involving juveniles, adults and parents who knowingly allow children to ride illegal e-motorcycles.
Tustin Police Department announced it would begin enforcing a stricter e-bike ordinance aimed at cracking down on unsafe riders. Among other restrictions, riders are prohibited from speeding through parks and pedestrian areas, riding against traffic, and carrying unauthorized passengers. Several coastal communities have passed emergency ordinances allowing officers to make more judgment calls, such as determining when someone is riding in an "unsafe manner".
Understanding Legal vs Illegal E-Bikes in California
California divides electric bicycles into three distinct classes based on motor operation and maximum assisted speed. Parents purchasing a kids electric bike must understand these classifications, as the wrong choice can result in criminal liability.
Class 1, 2, and 3 E-Bike Classifications
Class 1 e-bikes provide motor assistance only when the rider pedals, with assistance ceasing at 20 mph. These low-speed pedal-assisted bikes can be ridden by all ages and operate on any paved surface where regular bicycles are permitted. The motor won't engage unless the rider actively pedals.
Class 2 e-bikes feature both pedals and a throttle that can propel the bicycle without pedaling up to speeds of 20 mph. While the throttle allows riders to accelerate without pedaling, motor assistance still stops at 20 mph. All ages can ride Class 2 bikes.
Class 3 e-bikes provide pedal-assisted power up to 28 mph and carry stricter requirements. Riders must be at least 16 years old, and helmets are required for all riders regardless of age. These bikes must include a speedometer and cannot have a throttle in California. The motor provides assistance only during active pedaling.
What Makes an E-Bike Illegal
An electric two-wheeled vehicle cannot be classified as an e-bike if it has any of these specifications: it does not have operable pedals, it has a motor stronger than 750 watts of power, it provides pedal assistance beyond 28 mph, or it has a throttle that reaches speeds beyond 20 mph. Any vehicle meeting these criteria requires vehicle registration with the DMV and a motorcycle license for operation.
E-Motorcycles vs E-Bikes: Key Differences
E-motorcycles with motors exceeding 1,000 to 3,000 watts and top speeds between 30 and 50 mph have flooded middle school parking lots. To be legally ridden on streets, these vehicles must be registered with the DMV, and the rider must possess a driver's license and proof of insurance. Registration requires safety equipment including mirrors, lights, and turn signals that most lack.
Confusion exists because manufacturers sell these high-powered machines as e-bikes. Some even place Class 2 e-bike labels on them, falsely claiming they are limited to 20 mph even though their websites advertise much higher speeds. In contrast, legal e-bikes require no driver's license, registration, or insurance.
Speed and Power Restrictions
California law restricts all electric bicycles to motors producing no more than 750 watts of power. This threshold separates e-bikes from motorcycles and mopeds. Modifying an e-bike to exceed speed or power limits transforms it into a motorcycle or moped under California law. Such modifications might be considered a crime if the rider lacks a DMV license, which is available only to people 16 years old or older. Installing aftermarket controllers, changing motors or batteries, or modifying control panels to tweak speed limits violates state law.
When Parents Face Criminal Charges
District attorneys across Southern California have shifted from issuing warnings to filing serious criminal charges against parents whose children ride illegal e-motorcycles. Orange County has filed charges against three parents since January for allowing their kids to ride illegal e-motorcycles.
Involuntary Manslaughter Cases
Tommi Jo Mejer, 51, of Aliso Viejo faces involuntary manslaughter charges after her 14-year-old son struck and killed 81-year-old Ed Ashman while riding a Surron e-motorcycle and doing wheelies. Ashman, a former U.S. Marine Corps captain and substitute teacher, died from his injuries after the April 16 incident.
In addition to involuntary manslaughter, prosecutors charged Mejer with felony accessory after the fact and misdemeanor counts of contributing to delinquency of a minor and providing false information to an officer. She faces a maximum sentence of seven years and eight months in state prison if convicted on all counts.
Child Endangerment Charges
California's child endangerment statute allows prosecutors to charge parents who place children in situations likely to produce great bodily harm or death. District attorneys throughout the state, including in Riverside County, have warned that giving a minor an inappropriate, unsafe, or illegally modified kids electric bike without proper training or safety equipment can support a felony child endangerment charge.
Richard John Eyssallenne, 39, of Yorba Linda was charged with felony child endangerment and abuse after his 12-year-old son suffered a broken femur and fractured skull riding a modified Talaria electric motorcycle capable of roughly 60 mph. Investigators determined Eyssallenne had disabled the bike's speed governor and swapped the pedals, transforming what could have been a legal e-bike into an unregistered, unlicensed motorcycle.
The boy had received a citation in December 2024 for illegally riding an e-motorcycle. Both he and his father attended an e-bike safety presentation hosted by Yorba Linda Police Services on January 15, 2025. Despite this warning, the boy was critically injured on July 20, 2025, when he ran a red light and was hit by a car while illegally riding the modified e-motorcycle he had received as a Christmas present.
Contributing to Delinquency of a Minor
Prosecutors routinely add misdemeanor contributing to delinquency charges alongside felony counts. These charges apply when parents knowingly permit children to violate traffic laws or ride vehicles they are not legally allowed to operate.
Financial Penalties and Legal Costs
Penal Code Section 273a(a) child endangerment is a "wobbler" that can be charged as a felony, carrying up to six years in state prison when a parent's conduct creates an unjustifiable risk of great bodily harm. Eyssallenne faces a maximum sentence of six years in prison if convicted on all counts.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer publicly stated that parents who modify e-bikes into e-motorcycles for their children "are going to be prosecuted".
Call 213-932-8922, for a free consultation.
Real Cases: Parents Charged in Los Angeles County
Orange County has become ground zero for prosecuting parents whose children ride illegal e-motorcycles. The cases reveal how prosecutors use documented warnings, body-worn camera footage, and prior police contacts to establish parental knowledge and culpability.
Aliso Viejo Mother's Manslaughter Case
Tommi Jo Mejer called the Orange County Sheriff's Department in June 2025 to complain that someone was posting pictures of her then-13-year-old son riding an e-motorcycle. During a 28-minute interaction with two deputies captured on body-worn camera, Mejer admitted purchasing her son a Surron e-motorcycle and acknowledged that he drove it recklessly. The deputies warned her that she could face potential criminal charges if she continued to allow him to ride the vehicle, which he could not legally operate.
Nearly a year later, on April 16, 2026, her 14-year-old son was doing wheelies in the middle of the street when he struck 81-year-old Ed Ashman. Hours after the collision, Mejer repeatedly told investigating deputies on body-worn camera that neither she nor her teenage son owned a Surron or had access to one. The 2025 Surron Ultra Bee involved in the collision is capable of speeds up to 58 miles per hour and accelerates from 0-31 mph in 2.3 seconds. With a peak power of 12.5kW, the output is 16 times more powerful than what is legally allowed for an e-bike.
Yorba Linda Father's Endangerment Charges
Richard John Eyssallenne's son, his younger brother, and their father attended an e-bike safety presentation hosted by Yorba Linda Police Services on January 15, 2025, after the 12-year-old received a citation in December 2024 for illegally riding an e-motorcycle. The bike had been impounded once before the July 2025 collision.
Law enforcement inspection of the 2024 Talaria XXX revealed it had been modified to replace its manufacturer pedals with motorcycle pegs. The manufacturer-installed governor limiting maximum speed to 20 mph had its speed limiter wire cut and rerouted to a key switch, allowing the operator to disable the speed limiting mechanism. Bypassing the 20 mph speed limiter allowed riders to attain speeds of up to 60 mph with its 5,000-watt motor. Deputy Kiana Lewis, who responded to the crash, contacted Child Protective Services based on all the information she had gathered.
Orange County's RIDE SAFELY Program
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer created the RIDE SAFELY (Smart Accountability for E-Bikes and E-Motos and Law Enforcement for Youth) unit in mid-May 2026. The specialized unit includes experienced prosecutors from the Juvenile Justice, Community Outreach, and Family Protection units. The team assists law enforcement agencies through the investigatory process and provides consistent review of cases involving these vehicles.
How Prosecutors Are Building Cases Against Parents
Since January, the Orange County District Attorney's Office has filed child endangerment charges against three parents for allowing their children to illegally ride e-motorcycles. A Westminster father faces lesser child abuse and endangerment charges after his sons were allegedly warned about illegally riding e-motorcycles. An Orange County mother who allegedly bought her child an e-motorcycle, resulting in a crash where the boy was injured, also faces charges. Prosecutors are documenting prior warnings, capturing interactions on body-worn camera, and working with Child Protective Services to establish patterns of parental knowledge coupled with continued permission to ride illegal vehicles.
How to Keep Your Child Legal and Safe
Keeping your child compliant requires verifying specifications before purchase and maintaining proper equipment throughout ownership.
Verify Your E-Bike Classification
Check the permanent label on the frame showing classification number, top assisted speed, and motor wattage. Legal e-bikes must have fully operable pedals and motors rated at 750 watts or less. Officers verify compliance through visual label inspection, motor casing stamps, or manufacturer specification sheets. Labels listing ratings higher than 750W classify the vehicle as an off-highway vehicle, moped, or motorcycle.
Required Safety Equipment and Licenses
California does not require a driver's license, DMV registration, license plate, or insurance for legal e-bikes. Riders under 18 must wear properly fitted and fastened ASTM- or CPSC-compliant helmets. Class 3 riders require helmets regardless of age. E-bikes must have working brakes and a rear red reflector or solid/flashing red rear light with built-in reflector during all hours.
Age Restrictions and Where Kids Can Ride
Class 1 and Class 2 have no statewide minimum age, though San Diego County pilot programs allow local under-12 restrictions. Class 3 operators must be at least 16. Local rules may still restrict e-bikes in parks, beach paths, natural trails, or school areas.
Avoiding Modifications That Make Bikes Illegal
Software settings, apps, or aftermarket controllers do not make over-limit vehicles legal. California prohibits selling products designed to push e-bikes outside statutory definitions. Changing motors, batteries, or speed limiters creates liability issues.
Registration and Insurance Requirements
Optional bicycle insurance may provide theft, damage, or liability protection but remains voluntary.
What to Do If Your Child Is Stopped by Police
California agencies may issue warnings, citations, fines, required education, or vehicle removal. Total bail for helmet violations, under-16 Class 3 operation, and equipment violations reaches approximately $193.00 after penalties and fees.
Conclusion
Understanding California's e-bike laws isn't optional for parents anymore. Law enforcement has shifted from warnings to criminal prosecutions, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Due to increased enforcement, parents face involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment charges that carry years in prison.
Before purchasing a kids electric bike, verify the label shows 750 watts or less, confirm it has working pedals, and ensure your child meets age requirements. Most importantly, recognize that modified bikes or high-powered e-motorcycles marketed as e-bikes will put both your child's safety and your freedom at risk. The right choice today protects your family tomorrow.
References
[1] – https://www.velotricbike.com/blogs/story-landing/california-ebike-laws?srsltid=AfmBOopeOSlfz7k_yIWbummNaxHBYHX0LG4dm4jfxo19Ul3c40wuxRd1
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[3] – https://www.californiacriminaldefenselawyerblog.com/e-bike-crimes-parental-liability-and-dui-charges-in-california/
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[7] – https://www.wafb.com/2026/08/29/father-charged-after-12-year-old-son-injured-modified-e-motorcycle-crash/
[8] – https://abc7.com/post/orange-county-cracking-down-illegal-bikes-motorcycles-parents-face-charges/19099804/
[9] – https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/02/california-e-motorcycle-crash-involuntary-manslaughter
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[17] – https://himiwaybike.com/blogs/news/ebike-california-law
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Call 213-932-8922, for a free consultation.
