Lake Forest council to form ad hoc on e‑bike safety after residents report harassment

Residents told the Lake Forest City Council on Tuesday that groups of teenagers and young adults riding electric bikes and modified electric motorcycles have been racing through parks, riding on sidewalks and through stores, and verbally and physically harassing people.

The complaint prompted Mayor and council members to seek a short-term working group. The council asked staff to convene an ad hoc consisting of the mayor pro tem, the mayor and a retired Orange County sheriff to meet with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department to review enforcement policy and local tactics.

Why it matters: Speakers described safety threats to toddlers, seniors and other park users and said deputies sometimes decline to pursue riders. A council-level ad hoc signals the city is seeking policy options that could include coordinated patrols, signage, targeted enforcement, or technology such as drones, while acknowledging limits on pursuing riders in most non‑felony situations.

What speakers said - Jacqueline Napoli, a Trabuco Canyon resident, described an attack on someone close to her and said: “This incident revealed to me gaping flaws in our law enforcement.” - Gersha (Girish) Rao, who walks at Lake Forest Sports Park, said groups of about “10 kids” carry knives and light fires on a park gazebo. - Sean Lavery described modified electric motorcycles he said “exceed the legal 20 per hour limit,” ride through playgrounds and “pull wheelies,” and asked for increased police presence.

Council response and constraints Mayor and council members acknowledged the problem and agreed to pursue a focused response. The mayor proposed — and the council accepted by consensus — an ad hoc with the mayor pro tem and a retired Orange County sheriff to meet with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and discuss policy and enforcement options. The city manager said staff will report back on current call‑for‑service statistics and any written policy guidance the Sheriff’s Department provides.

Law enforcement limits were raised at the meeting. A retired deputy on the dais warned that vehicle pursuits and high‑speed chases are typically reserved for suspected felonies and said chasing riders for infractions can make situations worse. A public commenter suggested drone technology as a non‑pursuit tool for identification and evidence gathering.

What the council did and next steps The council directed staff to convene the ad hoc and to gather information about calls for service, citations, and Sheriff Department policy. No ordinance or enforcement change was adopted at the meeting; the action was a direction to investigate and report back.

Public comment and context Multiple residents testified that the problem began during and after the pandemic, when electric bikes became more common, and that retail centers (Walmart, Target) and the Lake Forest Sports Park are recurring “hot spots.” Several speakers urged registration or identification plates for e‑bikes; others asked for stepped‑up patrols during afternoons and weekends.

The council emphasized that any enforcement changes must respect legal limits on pursuits and that staff will review best practices from other cities and coordinate with the Sheriff’s Department.