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Sergeant reports drop in illegal e‑motorcycles; police to ramp seasonal education and enforcement
Summary
Sergeant Jeff Peterson told Corte Madera’s Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee that targeted training, school coordination and overtime enforcement have reduced illegal e‑motorcycle and e‑bike activity, though seven crashes and several seizures occurred in recent months; staff said outreach to parents and PTA groups will be increased heading into spring and summer.
Sergeant Jeff Peterson of the police authority told the Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee on March 9 that coordinated education and targeted enforcement have reduced visible illegal e‑motorcycle activity but that enforcement will continue as weather improves.
Peterson, who identified himself as a patrol sergeant and a Corte Madera resident, summarized department actions over the past year: departmentwide e‑bike training for officers, school coordination with resource officers and campus supervisors, special enforcement operations (including overtime details), and community messaging through school email lists and neighborhood platforms. "I've personally seen a dramatic improvement over the last 12 months in the number of illegal ebikes on the road and driving habits of those riding them," he said.
Why it matters: committee members framed the issue as both a traffic‑safety and school‑safety matter. Peterson reported 74 traffic stops on electric motorcycles in the prior six months, seven crashes (five involving adults, one involving a minor, and one hit‑and‑run), seven towed non‑street‑legal e‑motorcycles and two citations issued to parents for allowing minors to operate non‑street‑legal vehicles. He said a 2025 county e‑bike ordinance gave officers an extra enforcement tool.
Committee members and members of the public pressed for more targeted outreach. When asked whether campus parking or hiding of prohibited vehicles was being addressed, Peterson said campus supervisors have helped identify locked or concealed machines and that the department locks and removes obvious non‑street‑legal vehicles while notifying parents or students. He said the school resource officer and supervisors will continue to be primary contacts for identification and follow‑up.
Public commenter Jim Robinson urged trimming or removing a tree at Hickory near Neil Cumins School that he said limits driver and pedestrian visibility at a crosswalk. Staff responded that DPW will analyze the location and asked Robinson to email photos to help field crews prioritize trimming; staff also noted the Madera Gardens complete‑streets project includes related sight‑line work.
What’s next: Peterson said the department will continue education pushes (via school lists, the chief’s office and neighborhood platforms) and periodic enforcement operations into spring and summer. The committee asked staff to explore additional outreach channels (PTA meetings, bike shops) and to report back with any recommended community‑engagement plans.
