Bill Limits Age to Buy E-Bikes Signed Into Law by Gov. Newsom

A bill to limit sales of class 3 electric bikes (E-bikes) by instituting a minimum buy age of 16 years old was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom earlier this week.

Assembly Bill 965, authored by Assemblywoman Diane Dixon (R-Newport Beach), would prohibit a person from selling a class 3 electric bicycle to a person under 16 years of age and would make a violation of that prohibition an infraction punishable by a fine not to exceed $250. Currently, class 3 e-bikes, which are bikes equipped with a speedometer and a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, are only limited by making illegal for those under 16 to operate them.

Assemblywoman Dixon wrote AB 965 out of concern for reducing the number of injuries that e-bikes cause, especially in her district. For the past several years, the number of e-bike injuries has climbed dramatically, with the number of injuries rising nationwide every year by an average of 45%. With e-bikes being such public safety concern, Dixon and other lawmakers have pushed forward several bills putting more restrictions on e-bike usage, including a law passed last year mandating capacity devices on e-bikes. Dixon’s AB 965 is only the latest bill to go forward in Sacramento.

“My district is very concerned with regulating the sale of E-Bikes and reducing injuries to riders, pedestrians and other community members,” said Assemblymember Dixon earlier this year. “Assembly Bill 965 will do so by prohibiting children under 16 years of age from purchasing a Class 3 E-Bike.”

While there were a few concerns from lawmakers over if such a law was even needed, AB 965 nonetheless moved up through both the Assembly and Senate, with both Democrats and Republicans backing the bill. In May, the bill was passed unanimously in the Assembly, with the Senate following suit with a 37-0 vote earlier this month. This led to Governor Newsom’s decision this week to sign the bill into law.

“E-Bikes pose serious risks to pedestrians and other bikers if they are not operated correctly,” explained Dixon in a statement on Tuesday. “The law already prohibits individuals under 16 from riding these types of electric bicycles. My bill that was signed into law will ensure they cannot purchase them as well.

“This new law will work in conjunction with other bills and regulations attempting to curb the accidents and injuries sustained from reckless E-Bikes riders. According to data from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, children 14 years and younger accounted for 36% of micromobility injuries from 2017-2022.”

In addition to other new legislation, AB 965 joins a long list of passe laws and ordinances in and around the state putting major limits on e-bikes. E-bike crackdowns and outright bans have become more and more frequent in the state since 2020, especially in Southern California. Most cities now have some sort of fine in place for improper e-bike usage, with many cities impounding e-bikes as an almost daily event. AB 965 will make impounding bikes or writing fines easier for law enforcement, with some under 16 riders facing even more tickets as a result.

Upon signing this week, AB 965 is now in effect statewide.