On March 11 2025 the LB City Council approved 5:0 the city Ordinance establishing regulations specific to the operation of e-bikes and other electric transportation conveyances. Since then the LBPD and city staff have further clarified the penalty provisions, the Ordinance will again appear before City Council March 25 2025 during the regular Council Session Consent Item #15. The Ordinance paraphrased for simplicity appears below.
This information is presented for information only and is not considered legal guidance. For full text of the measure, see the Ordinance in municipal city code.
Chapter 10.16: Electric Bicycles and Other Electric Transportation Devices
Section 10.16.010 - DEFINITIONS
a) "Bicycle" means and includes any device upon which a person may ride, propelled by human power through a system of belts, chains or gears, with 20-inch wheels and 14-inch fame.
b) "Electric Bicycle" or "E-Bike" shall have the same meaning as set forth inCalifornia Vehicle Code Section 312.5, as amended on occasion.
c) "Motorized bicycle" shall have the meaning as set forth in California Vehicle Code Section 406(a), as amended form time to time.
d) "Other electric or motorized conveyance" shall mean any such similar one-, two-,or three-wheeled devices used for conveyance, optionally electric or other power source but may also accept human propulsion.
Section 10.16.020- OPERATION AND USE
A) Any person riding or operating any electric bicycle, motorized bicycle, or any other electric or motorized conveyance in the City must comply with the following provisions:
1. Unsafe Operation Prohibited. No person shall ride or operate an electric bicycle, motorized bicycle, or any other electric or motorized conveyance recklessly or otherwise in an unsafe manner on any public roadway, highway, sidewalk, park, or private property open to the public. "Unsafe manner" shall mean operation violating City municipal code including speed, noise, threatening to cause injury to self or others, presenting a hazard to the free use of public property by pedestrians, motorists.
2. Direction of Travel. The operator all bicycle, electric or motorized conveyance shall travel in the same direction as vehicles on a roadway, regardless whether the operator is in the roadway or in a bike lane.
3. Yield to Pedestrians and Vehicles. The operator of all bicycle, electric or motorized conveyance shall yield to vehicles and pedestrians as required by the California Vehicle Code.
4. Signs. The operator of all bicycle, electric or motorized conveyance shall obey official posted signs, including but not limited to traffic control signs and parking signs.
5. Speed Limit. No operator of an electric bicycle, motorized bicycle, or any other electric or motorized conveyance shall travel over 25 miles per hour on any public highway, trail, path, park, or other public prope1ty within the City where electric bicycles, motorized bicycles, or any other electric or motorized conveyances are permitted to be driven.
6. Passenger Restrictions. No person riding or operating an electric bicycle, motorized bicycle, or any other electric or motorized conveyance shall transport another person on such a conveyance unless such passenger is seated upon a seat attached to the vehicle in a safe manner. No person shall be a passenger ... unless such passenger is seated upon a seat attached to the vehicle in a safe manner.
7. Helmet Requirement. All operators and passengers under 18 years of age shall wear a helmet properly strapped while riding or operating an electric bicycle, motorized bicycle, or any other electric or motorized conveyance, as specified in California Vehicle Code
Section 21212.
Section 10.16.030 - PENALTIES
A. Violation of any provision of this Chapter may be punishable by administrative citation and fine, pursuant to the procedures outlined. In the event a minor is cited for violating this section, administrative citations may be issued to both, or either, the minor and the minor's parent or guardian.
FINES
1. An administrative fine not exceeding $100 for the first violation.
2. An administrative fine not exceeding $200 for a second violation within one year of the first violation.
3. An administrative fine not exceeding $500 for each additional violation
within one year of the first violation.
B. Violation of any provision of this Chapter may be punishable as an infraction, pursuant to the procedures outlined in Section 1.04.025 of this Code.
Section 10.16.040 - IMPOUND
a) In the event an adult is cited for violating this section for a violation that endangers the safety of others, the City officer issuing the citation may impound the electric bicycle, motorized bicycle, or any other electric or motorized conveyance to the Laguna Beach Police Department. The impounded ... conveyance shall be released upon payment of the impound fee consistent with Laguna Beach Police Department impound fee schedule.
b) In the event a minor is cited for violating this section for a violation that endangers the safety of others, the City officer issuing the citation may impound the electric bicycle, motorized bicycle, or any other electric or motorized conveyance to the Laguna Beach Police Department. The impounded ... conveyance shall be released to the minor's parent, guardian, or other responsible adult upon payment of the impound fee consistent with Laguna Beach Police Department impound fee schedule.
c) An electric bicycle, motorized bicycle, or any other electric or motorized conveyance impounded to the Laguna Beach Police Department under this Chapter shall be considered abandoned if not collected pursuant to this Section after a period in excess of 90 days. Abandoned electric bicycles, motorized bicycles, or any other
electric or motorized conveyances may be disposed of as restricted by Civil Code Sections 2080.1, 2080.2, 2080.3, 2080.4 and 2080.5.
Section 10.16.050 - EXEMPTIONS:
a) Public Agency Personnel: Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter, or any other section of this code, City and public agency personnel may operate regulated mobility devices or other vehicles at any place in the City in the performance of their official duties.
b) Mobility Devices. This Chapter is not intended to apply to or otherwise restrict regulated mobility devices used in a safe manner by physically disabled persons as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. Sections 12101 et seq.).
SECTION 3. The City Council finds that this Ordinance is not subject to CEQA ("Public Resources Code section 21000 et seq.) because it does not qualify as a "project" under CEQA. The provisions are exempt from environmental review.
SECTION 4. If any portion of this Ordinance, or the application of any such provision to any person or circumstance, shall be held invalid, the remainder of this Ordinance ... shall not be affected thereby, and to this extent the provisions of this Ordinance are servicable.
SECTION 5. This Ordinance is intended to be of Citywide effect and application. All ordinances and provisions of the Laguna Beach Municipal Code and Sections thereof inconsistent shall be and the same are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency and no further.
SECTION 6. The City Clerk of the City of Laguna Beach shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Ordinance and shall cause the same to be published in the manner required by law in the City of Laguna Beach. This Ordinance shall become effective thirty (30) days after the date of its adoption by the City Council.
ADOPTED this 25 th day of March, 2025.
-LS
