Monument Town Council unanimously passes illegal e-motorcycle restrictions, includes fines for parents
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- With growing concerns for safety, the Monument Town Council unanimously passed a new ordinance at Monday's meeting that will regulate illegal electric motorcycle and dirt bike use.
"We have had some pretty critical injuries to some youth up here, and it's a sad thing to see. It's a really hard thing for the community to face," said Jason Mezey, the owner of Routes Outfitters in Monument.
The new restrictions authorize the Monument Police Department (MPD) to use education, warnings, citations, impoundment, and other lawful enforcement options based on the circumstances.
Prohibited motorized devices that cannot be operated on town property under the ordinance include illegally operated electric motorcycles, electric dirt bikes, off-highway vehicles and any similar motorized recreational device that does not qualify as an electrical-assisted bike.
Fines for violating this can range from $50 to $1,000.
The new restrictions do not affect legal e-bike use.
Class 1, 2, and 3 e-bikes are all legal in Colorado when they meet Colorado requirements, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).
However, what’s allowed and not allowed can be confusing. Sometimes, products advertised as lawful e-bikes do not fit the definition under state regulations, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
According to CDOT, if the vehicle exceeds 28 mph and/or has more than 750 watts of power, it is an e-motorcycle. These require a driver’s license, registration and insurance to be street legal.
Mezey said that consulting a local bike shop before making a purchase is a good idea.
“These pieces of really fun equipment are coming out fast. Every year, new brands and makes and models are coming out. They're more powerful, they're faster... Parents have a hard enough time keeping up with just raising their kids,” Mezey said.
The ordinance also allows for parents to be fined for allowing a minor to operate any of the prohibited motorized vehicles.
Parents held responsible could have to pay up to $250 in fines.
In some cases, police officers can also impound the prohibited motorized vehicles under the ordinance.
MPD will use an education-first implementation model while preserving officer discretion to impose fines and impoundment based on circumstances and previous offenses.
The ordinance is set to go into effect 10 days following its publication on Tuesday, Oct. 20.
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