The Morro Bay Police Department is stepping up enforcement of e-bike laws this summer, launching a campaign to educate riders before issuing citations for illegal or unsafe riding.
“Morro Bay officers are enforcing all laws related to the California Vehicle Code addressing moving violations on public roadways for e-bikes and e-motorcycles,” Police Chief Amy Watkins told New Times in an email. “Officers are enforcing sidewalk and bike lane laws relevant to city municipal code.”
The three-phase initiative combines public outreach with targeted enforcement operations as state officials warn that many of the electric two-wheeled vehicles marketed as e-bikes do not legally qualify as such.
Informational flyers outlining California e-bike laws and safe riding practices were distributed through parent portals at Morro Bay High School, Los Osos Middle School, and Del Mar Elementary School, reaching approximately 2,907 families.
“Morro Bay PD will hold three e-bike enforcement details. One in June, July, and August to address any illegal use of e-bikes and e-scooters within the city,” Watkins said.
The city officially announced its enforcement campaign July 1. Throughout July, patrol and motor officers will focus on contacting riders, educating the public, and enforcing violations involving unsafe or illegal operation.
The campaign follows guidance from California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who issued a consumer alert in April warning that confusion over what qualifies as an e-bike has become a growing public safety concern.
“Sometimes, what looks like an e-bike or is marketed as an e-bike is not a bike at all,” Bonta said in the alert. “If your or your teen’s electric two-wheeled vehicle goes too fast, it might be a motorcycle or a moped—not an e-bike.”
California law recognizes three classes of e-bikes. Class 1 models provide pedal assistance up to 20 miles per hour, while Class 2 models can also be powered by a throttle up to 20 miles per hour. Riders younger than 18 must wear helmets when operating either class.
Class 3 e-bikes provide pedal assistance up to 28 miles per hour and may only be ridden by people 16 years or older. Helmets are required for all Class 3 riders regardless of age, and state law generally limits those bikes to streets and on-street bicycle lanes.
To qualify as a legal e-bike, a bicycle must also have fully operable pedals, a motor producing no more than 750 watts, and a permanent manufacturer label identifying its classification.
According to Morro Bay’s municipal code, riders must obey the same traffic laws as motorists, including stopping at traffic signals, yielding to pedestrians, and riding in the direction of traffic. The code also prohibits stunt riding, unauthorized races, and riding bicycles on sidewalks within business districts unless the sidewalk is designated as a bicycle route.
Violators could be fined up to $50 for a first offense, $100 for a second violation within one year, and up to $250 for additional offenses.
The department also reminded residents that not every electric two-wheeled vehicle is legally considered an e-bike.
The attorney general’s office cited research by UC San Francisco that found that rider injuries from e-bikes nearly doubled each year from 2017 to 2022, and a UC San Diego study showed injuries in San Diego among e-bike riders under 18 soared by 300 percent from 2019 to 2023.
By beginning with education before shifting to enforcement, Watkins said the Morro Bay Police Department hopes riders and parents will better understand the laws before officers begin issuing citations. ∆
This article appears in July 2-9, 2026.
