Police: prosecutor won’t accept under‑16 moving‑violation charges; committee explores education and impound rules

Interim Police Chief Harase told the Snoqualmie Public Safety Committee on June 2 that the King County Prosecutor’s Office juvenile division "is not accepting those charges on anybody under the age of 16," complicating enforcement of moving violations involving e-bikes and e‑motorcycles.

Harase said that, because many encounters involve riders younger than 16, the department is pursuing several tracks: continuing to enforce state RCWs and municipal ordinances for riders who can be charged; using criminal charges where appropriate (for example, reckless driving or property damage); and developing educational responses and partnerships with schools and community programs while the city attorney explores legal authority for other remedies.

"If it's under the age of 16 and we're making contact at this time, we're going to have to take a educational approach with not only the individual, but contacting the parent and advising them of, you know, the situation and kind of addressing it from that standpoint simply because we know the prosecutor's office is not going to take the charge," Harase said. He added law-enforcement options remain for riders with licenses: "If they have a learner's permit, so that could be somebody who's 15, but they have a learner's permit, or above or 16 and older and are a juvenile, we can cite them into municipal court based on the fact that they do have a driver's license."

Harase also cautioned about property actions: "We can't deprive somebody or their property without the legal authority to do so. The e motorcycle that we towed, it was committing a crime, and it was classified as a motor vehicle and registered, so I have the legal authority to tow that." He said the department sent an April case to prosecutors and is awaiting a decision on whether it will be filed.

Councilor Cotton asked whether the city can require offenders to attend safety training or community service in lieu of prosecution. Harase said the department can develop education programs—referencing a past "safe rider" program and partnerships with external organizations used last year—but emphasized that any new program must be legally authorized and staffed. He said he will research options and coordinate with the city attorney, and that staff plan to push educational messaging through the school district parent portal ahead of summer.

Discussion items: the juvenile division’s current refusal to accept under‑16 moving violations; the department’s plan to enforce RCWs and municipal law for licensed riders and to pursue criminal charges where applicable; the potential to revive or expand a safe‑rider educational program; and ongoing legal review of impound and parental‑liability mechanisms. No formal policy change or vote occurred at the meeting.