Jupiter officials outline stepped-up enforcement, education after child’s death at e-bike town hall

Jupiter officials and public-safety partners held a town hall on e‑bike safety where police outlined new enforcement and education steps after the recent death of a 12‑year‑old student, Rico Rountree.

The meeting drew town officials, school principals, health-care and emergency responders, bike‑shop owners and dozens of residents. Jupiter Police Chief Michael Barbera said the department will expand its education campaign and follow an enforcement directive under which every e‑bike traffic stop will result in a written warning or citation, parents will be contacted for juvenile stops, and unregistered high‑power “e‑motos” will be towed at the owner’s expense.

The chief framed the approach as threefold: “prevention, enforcement and diversion,” and urged parents to “know before you buy or ride,” stressing helmet use and that e‑bikes operated on roadways must obey traffic laws. “If you buy an e bike, leave it alone,” Barbera told the audience, warning against battery or…