Douglas County adopts emergency ordinance to regulate high‑powered dirt bikes, low‑powered scooters and OHVs

The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners on June 23 adopted an emergency ordinance restricting the use of certain low‑powered scooters and off‑highway vehicles across county roads, trails and parks, and waived the standard 30‑day delay so the rules take effect immediately.

Commander Allen Stanton of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, who presented the ordinance at the board’s public hearing, said the measure is intended to close a gap in state law and reduce injuries caused by high‑powered electric dirt bikes and other OHVs. "This is an important safety issue for our community," Stanton said, summarizing the ordinance’s clarified device definitions and enforcement approach.

The ordinance distinguishes electric scooters and e‑bikes from the higher‑powered vehicles the county targeted. According to the presentation, electric scooters and class 1–2 e‑bikes that travel at or below 20 mph and weigh under 100 pounds remain permitted on sidewalks, bike lanes and trails. The county’s focus is on higher‑powered low‑powered scooters (per the state definition cited in the presentation) and off‑highway vehicles that are intended for off‑road use but have appeared on sidewalks, trails and neighborhood streets.

The sheriff’s office said enforcement will be led by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, with limited‑commission partners — such as county rangers and metro‑district rangers — authorized to enforce the ordinance where appropriate. Commander Stanton told the board the county will emphasize education and warnings during an initial compliance phase before citations are routinely issued.

The ordinance requires DOT‑approved helmets for riders under 18 and retains existing state approaches that allow adults to choose whether to wear helmets. "We want our community to know that, yes, we do care about our people and there’s a balance," Stanton said. Commissioners said the helmet requirement for minors, plus outreach to parents and sellers, are central elements of the county’s approach.

The sheriff’s office cited a fatality and other recent injuries in Douglas County — including an August 2024 incident described during the presentation — as part of the impetus for local action after a state legislative fix did not pass. Commander Stanton and the board pointed to similar ordinances in nearby cities as precedent for local regulation.

Commissioner Kishor Layden moved to adopt the ordinance on second and final reading; the motion was seconded by the chair and passed unanimously. The board then approved an amendment to waive the normal 30‑day waiting period and adopt the ordinance as an emergency measure, making it effective immediately.

The board and sheriff’s office said they will roll out a communications plan, including the county website and coordinated social‑media messages, to inform residents, parents and businesses about what the ordinance covers and how to report violations.

What happens next: county staff and the sheriff’s office will begin an education phase and publish enforcement guidance and reporting links as outlined during the hearing.