Police report: e-bike questions and big rise in parking citations

The Gladstone police update highlighted two enforcement issues: e-bike rules and a notable rise in parking citations.

Lieutenant McNabb briefed the board on e-bikes, saying the devices have become more common and faster and that the city is considering whether to adopt an ordinance beyond what the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) require. “Do they wanna have an ordinance outside of what is in ORS?” McNabb asked, noting the discussion is ongoing and that clearer local language could help officers enforce age or speed limits.

Board members raised practical concerns about enforcing an ORS age limit (16), asking how officers would verify riders’ ages in the field. McNabb said enforcement is difficult without clearer standards and observed that newer e-bikes can reach speeds approaching small motorcycles.

On citations, the lieutenant said the department’s moving- and parking-ticket totals were up; a board member noted parking citations rose 135% year-to-date, from 300 to 715. McNabb attributed the increase to a combination of factors, including higher activity in busy areas (soccer season and the boat ramp), occasional rule-breaking and stepped-up enforcement; he said staff prefer outreach and education before ticketing in many cases.

The report also listed one injury crash so far this year (not fatal); board members asked for more information about that incident — location and cause — and McNabb agreed to send details to the board by email.

No ordinance was adopted at the meeting; the board flagged e-bike enforcement and citation trends for follow-up.