The e-motorcycle was seized by the Folsom Police Department on Wednesday.
Folsom Police Department
Folsom police seized an off-road electric motorcycle Wednesday, signaling the city’s ongoing efforts to crack down on electric bikes and electric motorcycles.
According to the Folsom Police Department, officers impounded the electric motorcycle because its driver, a juvenile, was the subject of an ongoing investigation into vandalism of a vehicle’s windshield on June 23 in Palladio.
Police identified the suspect during investigative work carried out after the incident, the report said. Folsom police said they will refer the case to the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office with a request for criminal charges.
Capital region officials have long pushed for stricter enforcement of regulations governing e-bikes and e-motorcycles. In California, children under 16 can legally ride Class 1 and 2 e-bikes, while Class 3 e-bikes and e-motorcycles have stricter age requirements.
Not every electric ride is an e-bike
California law draws a clear line between legal e-bikes and faster electric vehicles based on how they deliver power and top speed. Electric motorcycles, often called electric motos, and scooters are subject to different rules, including licensing, registration and where they can legally operate.
Class 1 
PedalsYes ThrottleNo AssistPedal Power Maximum Speed 20mph Engine Limit750W Min. Riding age: No Helmet required. If you are under 18 years old. Driver’s licenseNo registrationNo. Class 2 
PedalsYes ThrottleYes AssistPower Throttle Max Speed 20mph Engine Limit750W Min. Riding age: No Helmet required. If you are under 18 years old. Driver’s licenseNo registrationNo. Class 3 
PedalsYes ThrottleNo* AssistPedal Power* Max Speed28 mph Engine Limit750 W Min. riding age 16 years Helmet required. For all drivers Driver’s license No registration No e-bike Not an e-bike 
PedalsNo gasYes AssistNo Maximum speedVaries Motor limit>750W Min. driving age 16 years with license Helmet required. All drivers Driver’s LicenseYes RegistrationYes† Electric scooters Not an e-bike 
PedalsNo gasYes AssistNo Maximum speedVaries Engine limitN/A Min. riding age 16 years Helmet required. For all drivers Driver’s license Yes Registration No
*California law defines Class 3 as pedal assist. Some manufacturers sell Class 3 bikes with throttle limited to 20 mph, but the defining feature is pedal assist up to 28 mph. † DMV requires SUV registration; riders must have a driver’s license.
Sources: California Department of Justice, Department of Motor Vehicles.
Graphics: DANIEL HUNT • dhunt@sacbee.com
Class 1 e-bikes provide pedal assist up to 20 mph, while Class 2 e-bikes include throttle but stop assisting the rider at 20 mph. For Class 3 e-bikes, which provide pedal assist at speeds up to 28 mph, the rider must be at least 16 years old.
According to a previous Bee report, riders of e-motorcycles, or “motorcycles” that go beyond e-bike standards, may be required to have an M1 class registration and license and must be at least 16 years old.
According to Mike Majors, owner of an electric bike shop in Sacramento, children often visit his store to get their e-bikes repaired. Majors, who has run the store for 15 years, said he has seen a significant increase in the number of young riders.
“Kids come (to the store) all the time,” Majors said. “(E-bikes) have become very popular over the last few years.”
Folsom police said they will be increasing enforcement of e-bike regulations throughout the summer, according to a Facebook post.
“Throughout the summer, dedicated teams of officers will conduct targeted, zero-tolerance enforcement operations in areas where e-bike violations are most frequently reported,” the agency said in a post on its Facebook page.
According to the release, e-bike and e-motorcycle riders who violate the law may face civil citations, towing or criminal charges for violations beyond traffic violations. If a minor is stopped riding an e-bike or electric motorcycle, police will contact the driver’s parents.
Folsom police said the recent e-bike bust “serves as an important reminder for parents to talk to their children about responsible riding behavior, appropriate places to ride e-bikes, and the consequences of criminal behavior both on and off the bike.”
“Personally, I would like to see mandatory training and licensing for both riders and e-bikes,” one commenter wrote on Facebook. “Past obvious criminal acts, who is teaching the rules that we expect young people to know? In many cases it is clear that common sense is lacking.”