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Council public-safety committee to study e-bike and e-motorcycle rules, enforcement options
Summary
Snoqualmie's public-safety discussion flagged an increase in high-powered e-motorcycles and sidewalk/roadway conflicts; police and the city attorney said state law classifies devices above certain power as motor vehicles and the city is drafting ordinance updates with plans to bring proposals to the Public Safety Committee in mid to late July.
Councilors and public-safety staff discussed rising concerns about high-powered e-motorcycles and other electric devices during the June 23 meeting, and police said they are preparing ordinance changes and enforcement guidance for committee review.
Public Safety Committee members and Police Chief (interim) said devices with motors above 750 watts are treated as motor vehicles under state rules, which carries licensing and registration requirements and gives the city a clearer enforcement pathway. The chief said officers are reviewing RCW statutes and working with the city attorney to craft local rules that reflect state classifications and local enforcement needs.
"We're working on something," the chief said, noting the city will compare local ordinances to state law and expects to present options to Public Safety in late July. He said the current focus is on the dirt-bike-style e-motorcycles that have caused the most reported problems; the committee also plans to review the wording of existing e-bike and e-scooter provisions to ensure clarity.
Council members and staff urged residents to call 911 when incidents occur so police and fire can respond and create an official incident record. The chief said many complaints arrive by e-mail or social media after the fact, which limits immediate enforcement and data collection about hotspots. "If you call 911, dispatch will put it. It also creates a call for us to keep track of what is actually happening," the chief said.
The public-safety report noted additional measures the department is taking: updating online guidance about classes of e-bikes and scooters, coordinating with the prosecutor's office on juvenile enforcement, and using vehicle-impound authority for devices that meet motor-vehicle definitions. Committee members scheduled more detailed discussion and ordinance drafting for a July public-safety meeting.
