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Brentwood police urge ordinance update as electric bikes and scooters raise enforcement gaps
Summary
Police described enforcement limits for electric mini-bikes and scooters — officers must observe violations, under-17 riders generally cannot be cited, and current fines are low — and the city attorney will review the ordinance for possible revisions to clarify definitions and penalties.
Brentwood police told the Public Safety Committee on July 23 that existing ordinances do not adequately address emerging electric mini-bikes and scooters, creating enforcement constraints and neighborhood safety concerns.
Chief Spies, Brentwood Police Department: “First, whatever violation the officers see, they have to observe to be able to do any enforcement action. In other words, the neighbor can't get something on video, for example, and then bring it to us, and we're not allowed to do that by ordinance.”
Chief Spies said officers generally cannot issue citations to riders under 17 for ordinance violations and that the only immediate enforcement tool for underage riders is seizure of the bike for five days. For riders over 17, officers may issue citations; the chief noted fines currently range from $5 to $25 for some violations.
The department described the primary enforcement challenges: many of the small electric vehicles now in use are faster and behave like mini-motorcycles, riders often lack helmets or training, and infractions (running stop signs, unsafe operation on trails and streets) are difficult to document unless witnessed by an officer. Police recounted examples of riders zipping off trails onto residential streets near Mark Twain and McKnight, creating potential crash hazards.
Why it matters: enforcement limits restrict options for police and leave neighborhoods with safety concerns; the city attorney is reviewing the ordinance to consider modern definitions, graduated penalties and whether parental liability or higher fines should be permitted.
Chief Spies said City Attorney Jim Hetlage is reviewing other cities’ ordinances and will recommend changes to distinguish higher-powered electric vehicles from low-speed assist bikes, add clearer definitions and consider stronger fines or enforcement tools. Committee members discussed education, helmet requirements and whether officers should be allowed to ticket parents for underage riders; the chief described taking underage riders home and warning parents as a common first response.
Ending: The city attorney will prepare recommended ordinance changes for committee and elected-official review; staff will return with suggested language and potential enforcement mechanisms.
