Council introduces e‑bike ordinance; police emphasize 'unsafe conditions' enforcement and education plan

The Los Alamitos City Council introduced an ordinance aimed at clarifying enforcement for electric bicycles, directing staff to pair new municipal rules with education and outreach for riders and families.

The ordinance introduced by the city attorney, titled as an addition of chapter 10.45 to the Los Alamitos Municipal Code, was approved for first reading by voice vote. The measure responds in part to an Orange County grand jury recommendation and is intended to create tools for local enforcement while preserving alignment with state vehicle code.

Los Alamitos Police Department officers described how enforcement will work in practice. Captain Gallagher told the council that class‑3 e‑bikes — the higher‑speed category often capable of around 28 miles per hour — are not permitted on sidewalks under the proposed local code. But officers will not attempt to police a fixed sidewalk speed; instead they will cite riders when an officer determines that the rider’s speed or behavior is “unsafe for the prevailing conditions.” “If there are conditions that exist that would make that unsafe, such as an elderly person, somebody in a wheelchair, somebody walking their dog, then [an officer] would have the ability to determine whether it is unsafe,” Captain Gallagher said.

Council members and residents pressed police for practical tools: signage, social‑media outreach, school‑based education and a dedicated web page. Police said staff will incorporate the new municipal rules into a planned junior‑high safety course; the city expects to distribute informational material through schools, email blasts and social media, and to post a dedicated page on the city website.

Citations will be handled as administrative (in‑house) citations rather than traffic citations submitted to the county court system, staff said. That approach keeps the process local and avoids court filing costs but also means unpaid admin citations could be referred to collections. Councilmembers discussed a staged fine regime during the debate (examples mentioned included $100, $200 and $500 tiers), but the ordinance introduction established only the enforcement framework; fine schedules and administrative procedures will be set by staff consistent with code.

Police and council members also discussed alternatives to fines for juveniles; staff noted another city is piloting a program in which a family can avoid a fine by attending a safety class with the minor. That option would require city resources to operate and was not part of the introduced ordinance.

The council approved the ordinance introduction on a voice vote. Staff said the police department will follow with education materials, school coordination and a web page to help residents understand the new rules.