SDPD discusses e-bike enforcement at Pacific Beach Town Council

PACIFIC BEACH Officers from the San Diego Police Department s Northern Division filled residents in on how they re enforcing illegal use of e-bikes by youths at the Pacific Beach Town Council in October E-bikes have been banned on the city s beach boardwalks Also Class pedal-assisted e-bikes which can reach speeds up to mph are illegal for youngsters to ride because of their speed and power In California Class e-bike riders must be at least years old Additionally all riders must wear a helmet regardless of age and are subject to the same traffic laws as other vehicles SDPD public relations officer Jessica Dishman introduced the Region Oriented Policing Squad organization consisting of officers Zane Peterson Kurtis Vaughn and Dustin Welsh Welsh revealed the COPS organization will be periodically working the beachfront including the boardwalk to engage with e-bike riders initially emphasizing mentoring before enforcement Anything that s powered by an electrical device we re going to be stopping documenting he revealed That way next summer it will not be as big a issue We can cut it off now Welsh noted that SDPD is also going to be posting new signage all the way down the boardwalk and along the bays so people can t say we didn t know He added that there is presently only one sign stating no electronic bikes are allowed located at the foot of Grand Avenue In reply to an audience member s comment that youthful e-bike riders are more problematic on streets than on the boardwalk Welsh replied We ve started e-bike enforcement in La Jolla near schools that are no longer allowing those bikes on campus Dishman pointed out that the COPS unit is stretched thin having only three officers to patrol the entire area SDPD Northern Division serves Bay Ho Bay Park Clairemont Mesa East and West La Jolla Mission Bay Park Mission Beach North Clairemont Pacific Beach Torrey Pines and University City One day the COPS organization will focus on La Jolla another in Mission or Pacific beaches and everything in-between she mentioned Dishman added that schools and parents are being enlisted to help curb illegal e-bike use Legislators are looking into implementing several type of safety curriculum in school that demands to take place that a parent has to sign off on Dishman noted Maybe SDPD can get involved to inspect the e-bikes to make sure they re legal because a lot of these e-bikes are modified We want to make sure they stay within regulation Appealed if e-bikes ascertained to be illegal or riding in spots where they re not allowed can be impounded Welsh noted They can get impounded just like a car A lot of e-bike teaching is trying to educate the parents because students are just telling them My friends have one and I want one ' Dishman added And parents are buying them We re also trying to educate parents that they re responsible can even receive a citation for this