Sammamish police warn residents about illegal e‑motorcycles in parks, trails and sidewalks

Sergeant Jones of the Sammamish Police Department’s traffic unit warned Sammamish residents that powerful electric motorcycles, often called e‑motorcycles, are being ridden illegally on sidewalks, trails and in parks and are causing safety and property damage. “They're on the roads, on our sidewalks, through our parks, and on our trails,” Jones said.

Jones said the city is seeing confusion between electric bicycles and e‑motorcycles and stressed the legal differences. “An electric bicycle or ebike is just that, a bicycle with a little help from an electric motor,” Jones said, noting ebikes are limited to motors that do not exceed 750 watts and to top speeds of about 20 mph, or up to 28 mph for class 3 models. By contrast, Jones said common e‑motorcycles made by manufacturers he identified as Sauron or Talaria often have motors in the 6,000–8,000 watt range and can reach speeds of 50 mph or more.

Because of that power and speed, Jones said e‑motorcycles "can't be ridden in parks, on trails, on sidewalks, really anywhere but the road." He added they are not legal for roadway operation unless they have a license plate, an operator with a motorcycle license or endorsement, and a DOT‑approved helmet. "You won't find many headlights, turn signals, or mirrors on them though, so they're typically not eligible to be licensed for roadway use," Jones said, meaning the only lawful locations for many of these vehicles are private property or land specifically designated for off‑road vehicle use with the proper decal.

Jones told residents the police department is receiving a high volume of complaints about e‑motorcycles being used to perform wheelies through traffic, running stop signs and tearing up fields and trails. He said the majority of riders officers are encountering are minors and urged parents and guardians to ensure children know and follow the rules. Jones said parents could face a $145 fine for allowing an unauthorized minor to operate such a vehicle and could be subject to civil or criminal liability for property damage or endangering the public.

The department posted additional resources about ebikes and e‑motorcycles on its website and invited residents to call with questions or to report incidents.

Less critical details: Jones identified Big Rock Park South as a location where he observed the problem and named manufacturers he commonly sees. No formal policy change, ordinance, or enforcement action was announced during this public safety message.