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Snoqualmie police, public works and council discuss e‑motorcycles, school‑zone lighting and enforcement options
Summary
City staff told the Public Safety Committee they are stepping up education and enforcement on e‑motorcycles and e‑bikes, are activating and seeking funding for school‑zone flashers, and are coordinating with the City Attorney and King County prosecutors on enforcement measures tied to state law.
The Public Safety Committee discussed complaints about electric bicycles and electric motorcycles, and progress on school‑zone speed‑zone flashers and other traffic calming near Meadowbrook and Park Street.
Rob Watt, Public Safety Committee chair, asked for updates; Snoqualmie Police representatives and Public Works staff reported progress on temporary and permanent measures. Police said they have activated flashing lights at Park Street school zones and are exploring grant funding and additional lighting near Meadowbrook High School with Public Works. Temporary rumble strips were installed last year but are not permanent and were damaged by winter plows.
Why it matters: committee members said the issues affect student safety and pedestrian routes near schools, and the city is considering engineering, enforcement and outreach interventions.
Police briefed the committee on e‑motorcycles (described in the meeting as electric dirt‑bike style vehicles) and said those vehicles are excluded from the city’s existing e‑bike ordinance and instead fall under Washington state law. The officer explained the relevant state rules include RCW 46.61.705 (motor‑driven cycles exceeding 750 watts are treated as motor vehicles and bear VINs) and RCW 46.61.606 (driving on sidewalks is prohibited in most cases). The department said it will emphasize that e‑motorcycles require registration, a license and a motorcycle endorsement when operated on public roads and that sidewalk operation will be enforced under state law where appropriate.
The committee discussed enforcement challenges for juvenile operators and prosecutorial discretion. Police said they are coordinating with the City Attorney and King County Prosecutor’s Office to determine how to pursue charges and that juvenile cases present different constraints than adult prosecutions. The department urged residents to call 911 when incidents are occurring so officers can respond rather than relying on emails after the fact.
Education and outreach were repeatedly emphasized. Committee members recommended multiple platforms: utility‑billing inserts, the city’s website, social media clips, the school district parent portal and targeted signage (for example, no electric bikes on sidewalks or trails). Chair Rob Watt and Council Member Cotton both encouraged the department to work with the communications director and school district to maximize reach.
Discussion vs. decisions: the meeting produced no ordinance changes or votes. Staff said they are drafting recommended ordinance language and working with the City Attorney on whether to amend the municipal code or rely on RCW enforcement. The committee agreed to bring a fuller package back to a future Public Safety meeting (anticipated in July) with proposed signage, draft ordinance language (if any), enforcement approach and communications materials.
Ending: Police reiterated the operational guidance: call 911 for active incidents; use the nonemergency line for after‑the‑fact reports if no immediate danger exists. Staff will return with a consolidated proposal and proposed outreach materials at a future meeting.
