Law enforcement is clamping down on illegal e-bike use

E-bikes are in the news again, and for all the wrong reasons.

A couple months ago, we discussed on these pages how the Orange County District Attorney’s Office brought charges against the parents of a teenager who killed a pedestrian in an e-bike collision. The victim, 81-year-old Ed Ashman, was a beloved member of the community and a Vietnam War Veteran.

District Attorney Tod Spitzer announced charges this week in another tragic case. A 13-year-old Garden Grove boy named Benson Nguyen was killed in an e-bike crash in May. His parents have been charged with child endangerment.

Six other Orange County parents are facing charges too.

These enforcement actions follow last month’s buyback program at Angel Stadium. The DA’s Office offered cash for parents to surrender their e-bikes.

E-bikes and e-scooters have exploded in popularity over the past 6 years, especially since Covid. Hospitals across the country, including those in the Southland, are advising that emergency room visits among children and teenagers have risen sharply since these modes of transportation have grown in popularity.

Parents need to be aware of the serious risks e-bikes and e-scooters pose for their children. Riders under the age of 18 require helmets. You can find a more detailed list of e-bike and e-scooter rules here.

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