Riverhead E-Bike Law Takes Effect With Fines, Possible Jail Time

Riverhead police put residents on notice Monday that a newly enacted town ordinance governing electric bikes, electric dirt bikes and e-scooters carries stiff consequences — including fines reaching $500, possible incarceration and seizure of the offending vehicle.

The Town Board gave unanimous approval to the regulations June 16, following several months of debate over the surge in electric two-wheelers, particularly among younger riders, on town streets.

Town officials had flagged the devices as an escalating danger to riders, pedestrians and drivers. Police Chief Ed Frost had previously noted that Route 58 had been the scene of no fewer than two recent collisions involving an e-bike or e-scooter, with one leaving a rider with serious injuries.

The ordinance sets out rules for where and how e-bikes and e-scooters may be operated within town limits. Those caught breaking the rules face the prospect of financial penalties, possible jail time and confiscation of their vehicle.

The new rules arrive as electric bikes and scooters have surged in use across Long Island and the wider New York area, sometimes faster than local governments can establish adequate safety frameworks. A separate incident in nearby Peekskill over the weekend, in which a faulty e-scooter charger sparked a fire, underscored the varied hazards the devices can pose.

Riverhead officials offered few specifics on how enforcement would be carried out, but the department's public warning Monday made clear that active policing of the ordinance was underway. Riders were urged to review the new requirements before taking their vehicles out on town roads.