Vehicles: electric bicycles.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does not specify that parents or legal guardians will be fined if their children break the rules. This claim was removed as it is not supported by the official source material.

Electric Bicycles in San Mateo County

This law allows local authorities in San Mateo County to set rules that stop children under 12 from riding certain types of electric bicycles and requires them to report on how these rules are followed.

What This Bill Does

• Allows local officials in San Mateo County to make a rule prohibiting kids under 12 years old from using class 1 or class 2 electric bikes.
• For the first two months after making this rule, anyone who breaks it gets a warning instead of a fine.
• After two months, breaking the rule means getting fined $25.
• Parents or guardians can also be fined if their child breaks the rule.

Who It Names or Affects

• Local authorities in San Mateo County
• Children under 12 years old who ride class 1 or class 2 electric bicycles
• Parents and legal guardians of children who break the rules

Terms To Know

Class 1 Electric Bicycle

An electric bicycle that helps you pedal but stops when you reach 20 miles per hour.

Class 2 Electric Bicycle

An electric bicycle with a motor that can move the bike without pedaling, but it stops helping at 20 miles per hour.

Limits and Unknowns

• The rules only apply in San Mateo County and its unincorporated areas.
• Local authorities must report to the state about how well these rules are followed by January 1, 2030.

Official Summary Text

AB 2595, as introduced, Papan.
Vehicles: electric bicycles.
Existing law defines an electric bicycle and classifies electric bicycles into 3 classes with different restrictions. Under existing law, a “class 1 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour. Under existing law, a “class 2 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour. Under existing law, a “class 3 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a speedometer and a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour. Existing law prohibits a person under 16 years of age from
operating a class 3 electric bicycle.
This bill, the San Mateo Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program, would, until January 1, 2031, authorize a local authority within the County of San Mateo, or the County of San Mateo in unincorporated areas, to adopt an ordinance or resolution that would prohibit a person under 12 years of age from operating a class 1 or 2 electric bicycle. For the first 60 days following the adoption of an ordinance or resolution for this purpose, the bill would make a violation of the ordinance or resolution punishable by a warning notice. After 60 days, the bill would make a violation of the ordinance or resolution punishable by a fine of $25, except as specified. This bill would make a parent or legal guardian with control or custody of an unemancipated minor who violates the ordinance or resolution jointly and severally liable with the minor for the amount of the fine imposed. The bill would, if an ordinance or resolution is adopted, require
the county to, by January 1, 2030, submit a report to the Legislature that includes, among other things, the total number of traffic stops initiated for a violation of the ordinance or resolution, the results of those traffic stops, and the actions taken by a peace officer during a traffic stop, as specified. The bill would require a local authority or county to administer a public information campaign for at least 30 calendar days prior to the enactment of the ordinance or resolution, as specified.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF