Hawthorne council directs staff to draft e‑bike ordinance after presentation on neighboring cities’ models

The Hawthorne City Council directed staff to draft an e‑bike ordinance modeled after Manhattan Beach’s integrated approach that pairs education, administrative citations and criminal penalties, following a presentation by Deputy City Attorney Reiden Wong.

Wong summarized local trends and said neighboring cities target four enforcement categories: operational restrictions (speed, stunts, distracted operation), location restrictions (sidewalks, parks, school grounds), passenger rules and equipment/safety requirements. He described Hermosa Beach’s escalation model and Manhattan Beach’s integrated model and explained available tools such as diversion safety programs, administrative fines and, for repeat or egregious offenses, criminal penalties.

"We’re starting to see this shift and this push towards holding e‑bike operators and riders to the same standards that you would those operating automobiles," Wong said, citing examples such as helmet requirements for minors and definitional language for stunts.

Councilmembers voiced safety concerns for pedestrians and children, debated parent accountability and cautioned about the long‑term consequences of misdemeanors. "We need to hit hard in the pocket, do the education, make it a lifetime," Councilmember Katrina Manning said, while also warning that a misdemeanor conviction can have severe, long‑term consequences for defendants.

Councilmember Montero moved to direct staff to prepare an ordinance modeled on Manhattan Beach’s integrated model; the motion was seconded and carried with the clerk announcing the votes reflected mayor and council voting yes and Councilmember Manning voting no. City staff and the city attorney said the ordinance would return for readings with oral public comment opportunities.

Council members asked staff to consider an education foundation, administrative fines that escalate with repeat violations (council discussed ranges of $100–$1,000), diversion options for juveniles that require parent participation and impoundment policies for seriously modified or illegal bikes. The city attorney’s office warned that any criminal prosecution would proceed through the LA County District Attorney’s office and that the city could exercise prosecutorial discretion.

Next steps: Staff will draft ordinance language and return for first reading and a public hearing; the council signaled support for a model that combines prevention, education and graduated enforcement but asked staff to craft guardrails to limit unintended lifetime consequences for juveniles or low‑level offenders.