Suffolk to impound illegal e-bikes under new law; no one under 16 can ride

“There’s nothing safe about e-bikes. They are inherently dangerous,” Catalina said during a news conference at police department headquarters in Yaphank. “We will confiscate those e-bikes and you’re not getting them back.”

Since March 1, when Suffolk Police began full enforcement, the highway patrol unit alone has issued 96 summonses: 53 tickets for operating e-bikes or e-scooters on sidewalks, 37 tickets for riding on roadways with speed limits over 30 mph, and six for other violations.

Furthermore, e-bikes and e-scooters cannot be operated on roadways where the speed limit exceeds 35 miles per hour, and reckless or impaired operation will result in immediate impoundment and forfeiture to the county.

The law also distinguishes between three classes of e-bikes.

Class 1 e-bikes provide motor assistance only while pedaling and stop assisting at 20 mph. Class 2 e-bikes can operate without pedaling, but also cut assistance at 20 mph.

Only Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are legal in Suffolk County.

Class 3 e-bikes, which can zoom over at speeds above 20 mph, are prohibited across the county. Additionally, any modification to a Class 1 or Class 2 e-bike that increases its speed beyond 20 mph renders it illegal.

Penalties escalate sharply for repeat offenses. First-time violations carry fines up to $500 plus a $1,300 redemption fee. Second offenses bring fines up to $1,500 and a $300 redemption fee. Third offenses carry fines of $7,300, mandatory jail time, and vehicle forfeiture.

“Public safety is our first concern,” Romaine said. “Kids were racing through neighborhoods on public streets, some much younger than 16, and not following any laws, not wearing helmets.”

“One 15-year-old injured is one too many and we’re going to do everything in our power to prevent that from happening moving forward,” Catalina said. “Part of it’s education, and part of it’s going to be enforcement.”

The department spent the months between January and March 1 conducting public education through social media and other channels before initiating full enforcement.

“We wanted to get the message out before we started enforcing it,” Catalina said. “We don’t want to see people purchase these things unnecessarily and have them impounded.”

Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Anthony Piccirillo said the regulations address the kind dangerous behavior that he has witnessed firsthand.

“You do not have a constitutional right to ride recklessly on an e-bike,” Piccirillo said. “It’s dangerous to the public. It’s dangerous to motorists. I see it myself in downtown Sayville … on sidewalks and going in and out of cars.”

During traffic stops, Suffolk police officers are providing operators with educational materials explaining the law. The department has posted detailed information about e-bike classifications on its website.

Officials showed video during the press conference of a police traffic stop involving an e-scooter rider on a local highway. The officers provide the teen rider with educational material and escort the child, and his bike, from the highway.

_{Top: Facebook Live / Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine}