Roselle board directs staff to draft ordinance restricting high‑power off‑road motorcycles, sets age rules for e‑bikes

The Village of Roselle Board on June 9 directed staff to prepare a formal ordinance that would add definitions for Class 1, 2 and 3 electric bicycles, prohibit off‑highway motorcycles and motors above 750 watts from public property, and set age and enforcement rules for low‑speed electric scooters and e‑bikes.

The measure matters because the board said a patchwork of local rules is causing enforcement problems, and trustees and police described unsafe behavior — especially by high‑powered off‑road motorcycles — that they said is already occurring on village streets and private property.

Chief of Police Rob Barreto presented the draft ordinance and walked the board through new definitions and restrictions. “We added definitions for class 1, 2, and 3 e bikes into the village code,” Barreto said, explaining that the draft follows common class definitions: a Class 1 provides pedal assist up to 20 miles per hour; Class 2 includes a throttle and assist up to 20 miles per hour; Class 3 is pedal‑assist with higher assisted speed. Barreto told the board that an e‑bike in the draft must have operable pedals and a motor under 750 watts.

Barreto said the draft treats items already covered by bicycle rules as applicable to e‑bikes and adds new restrictions where state law or local circumstances require them. Under the draft, off‑highway motorcycles and e‑bikes with motors above 750 watts would be allowed only on private property with the owner’s permission. Barreto noted that low‑speed electric scooters would follow state rules, including a minimum age of 18 to operate on public streets.

Trustees questioned enforceability and asked how officers would determine whether a rider was using motor assist. Trustee Gaumke asked, “Why would anybody buy a motorized bike if they can't use it? How are you gonna enforce that with a kid?” Barreto replied the difference is usually evident in operation: “Very easy if somebody is zipping along and they're not…they're not pedaling.”

The draft adds a parental‑responsibility provision allowing police to cite a parent or guardian when a minor violates the ordinance and includes authority to impound personal use vehicles temporarily and release them to a parent or guardian. Barreto said the impoundment process would be handled like an administrative tow and that the current ordinance language does not include an impoundment fee; trustees discussed adding a fee for repeat offenders but did not adopt one at the meeting.

Trustees reached consensus on several points and instructed staff to continue refinement and return with a formal ordinance for adoption. Mayor Pulaski and trustees asked staff to coordinate outreach: communications director Emily Glimko and community resource coordinator Maria Reyes were named as leads for public education materials and enforcement messaging. Trustee Trejo requested a follow‑up report on enforcement activity in autumn.

The board did not vote to adopt the ordinance at the June 9 meeting; members provided direction to staff and agreed on policy points to include in the draft ordinance.

What happens next: staff will draft the formal ordinance incorporating the board’s direction, coordinate messaging and education with village communications, and bring the ordinance back to the board for formal consideration and any required vote.