Highland Park council moves toward permitting class 1–3 e‑bikes, targets high‑powered 'e‑motos' for stricter rules

Highland Park — Police and staff told the Committee of the Whole on Oct. 6 that most local complaints about electric bicycles and scooters this summer involved high‑powered devices and juveniles, and the council provided direction to draft an ordinance that would keep class 1–3 e‑bikes broadly permitted while imposing stricter limits on higher‑powered “e‑motos.”

The council heard a police presentation that distinguished state‑defined class 1, 2 and 3 e‑bikes from mopeds, electric motorcycles and high‑powered scooters the police refer to as “e‑motos.” Sergeant Saldana, who led the briefing, described the classes and said the department’s recommendation is to treat those high‑powered devices differently, requiring registration, VINs and insurance and, when applicable, M‑ or L‑class…