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Enumclaw council holds first reading of ordinance to define and restrict electric motorcycles
Summary
At its June 22 meeting the Enumclaw City Council heard first reading of Ordinance No. 2839 to define and regulate electric motorcycles, prompting staff to cite safety, enforcement and state-law gaps and recommending equipment, licensing and restricted-use rules.
The Enumclaw City Council on June 22 held a first reading of Ordinance No. 2839, which would create a new municipal code chapter to define and restrict electric motorcycles and related high-powered electric dirt bikes.
The ordinance drew a staff report from the police chief, who said the devices “are often marketed as recreational or off road use devices, but are frequently operated on public streets, sidewalks, and multi use trails within city limits.” The chief told the council the city’s current municipal code does not clearly address electric motorcycles, producing enforcement ambiguity and public-safety concerns.
Why it matters: council members and the public have reported incidents of unsafe speeds, sidewalk operation and near misses involving such vehicles; staff said many riders are juveniles or unlicensed and that some vehicles lack helmets or necessary equipment. The ordinance aims to distinguish electric motorcycles from e-bikes and mopeds based on power, speed capability and design, and to set where they may be operated and what equipment and operator credentials are required.
Staff said the proposal would: define electric motorcycles; prohibit operation on sidewalks, parks and multi-use trails unless expressly authorized; require helmets and lighting consistent with state law; set minimum safety standards for roadway operation; and create enforcement tools including warnings, citations, impound and misdemeanor classifications for repeat or egregious violations. The chief said the city attorney reviewed the draft to check consistency with applicable statutes.
The chief also noted recent state-level activity, telling the council that “the passage of gross substitute senate bill 61 10 has established a need for a department of licensing work group to commence working on state regulations for electric motorcycles with a due date of October 2027.” Staff said the municipal ordinance is intended to complement state action by addressing local gaps in the meantime.
Next steps: this was a first reading and no final action was taken. Councilmembers may propose amendments at second reading; the staff report said the ordinance had been discussed and approved by the Public Safety Committee.
