Police chief urges education‑first approach as e‑bike incidents rise in Lago Vista

Police Chief Troy warned the Lago Vista Economic Development Corporation on May 12 that the city has seen a rise in illegal, high‑power electric bicycles and motorized two‑wheelers and that the department intends to emphasize public education before heavy enforcement.

“Just because they sell something doesn’t mean it’s legal to drive,” Chief Troy said, describing the technical limits in state transportation code: motors over 750 watts or bikes that exceed assisted‑speed limits are not treated as conventional e‑bikes and are generally illegal on public roadways. He summarized the statewide classifications — class 1 and class 2 e‑bikes (about 20 mph assisted), and class 3 models (higher assisted speeds) — and said the motor‑wattage cap is a key threshold that separates legal e‑bikes from motorized bicycles or mini motorcycles.

The chief told the board that e‑bike users must follow the same rules as bicyclists: obey traffic signals, yield to pedestrians and keep to the far right of the roadway. He also outlined equipment and age rules noted in state law, including a minimum age for the fastest class of e‑bike and helmet requirements for younger riders.

“Education is our goal first,” the chief said. “We want to educate the public, educate the children. However, if somebody keeps violating the law or a serious crash occurs, we will take enforcement action.” He said the department had not issued e‑bike tickets at scale but had notified parents in some cases and would escalate based on seriousness and repeat violations.

Chief Troy cited a recent fatal crash in Forest Lake, California, involving a 14‑year‑old on an illegal motorized bike and an 81‑year‑old pedestrian; the presenter used the example to illustrate potential liability and criminal exposure for caregivers in some prosecutions. He said Lago Vista officers have documented local problems: groups of fast or illegal bikes occupying roadways, riders doing wheelies and failing to yield on sidewalks, and use of e‑bikes on private property such as the POA and golf courses where such vehicles are prohibited.

Board members and staff welcomed the education emphasis and asked how the city would follow up. The chief said the department plans to publish parts of the presentation on social media, run a supervised bicycle‑safety course (a “bicycle rodeo,” preferably at the high school) and coordinate with parks and the POA on trail and private‑property use. He said registration programs have pros and cons and that any ordinance change to require registration or parental presence at registration would need council action.

Justin Lownds, the board chair, stressed the city’s hilly roads and blind turns as reasons to emphasize safety and supported a culture‑of‑safety approach rather than immediate punitive measures. Board members discussed whether trail width and ownership should influence local ordinances; the chief advised tailoring trail rules to trail width and pedestrian volume.

The chief urged parents and community leaders to treat the issue as an education and safety problem and said officers would reserve tickets or impoundments for serious or repeated offenses.