OCEANSIDE — Police will begin confiscating e-bikes from operators as part of a new crackdown on reckless riding behavior.
The City Council approved the first reading of an amendment to the city’s ordinance regulating electric bicycles and other mobility devices on Jan. 14.
An ordinance, first adopted in 2024, established an education-first enforcement model, allowing riders cited for violations to resolve them by attending a bicycle safety course. However, as complaints continued to rise over the past two years, repeat and reckless offenders have demonstrated that the current system is not working.
“Operational experience, particularly with youth offenders, shows that citation and education alone are not sufficiently deterring repeated and unsafe behavior,” said Police Capt. Scott Garrett.
In 2024, the city recorded approximately 449 e-bike-related calls for service. Police originally estimated 2025 would end with 844 calls for service, but the final count reached 918 — a 104% increase from the previous year.
The Oceanside Police Department requested two amendments: first, to allow police to temporarily seize Class 1, 2 or 3 e-bikes when an operator is cited for reckless operation, failure to exercise due regard for safety, or two or more criminal violations within a 12-month period; and second, to prohibit carrying passengers, or “double riding,” on e-bikes unless the device is designed with a separate passenger seat.
E-bikes seized would be held as evidence until final case adjudication and released to the lawful owner upon presentation of proof of ownership.
Although criminal violations would likely result in court fines, there would be no additional storage or impound fees. The change is intended to reduce the likelihood of repeated offenses while providing a “practical enforcement tool” to encourage safer riding behavior without imposing additional financial hardship.
Prohibiting double riding is intended to reduce loss-of-control collisions and near-miss incidents involving pedestrians.
Both amendments maintain the education-first approach and may be resolved by completing a free bicycle or e-bike safety course offered every other month or any comparable course; by paying the court-imposed fine; or by a traditional court hearing.
“Keep in mind our goal is to not seize any bikes,” Police Chief Taurino Valdovinos said. “Hopefully, passing this will deter people.”
City staff also plans to work with local school districts, including Oceanside Unified and Vista Unified, to inform students and families of the new rules, and to use social media to further spread the word.
If adopted, the amendments would take effect 30 days after final passage, and enforcement would begin then.
Unlike other local cities, the Oceanside Police Department is not considering an age restriction for e-bikes at this time, noting that only 5% of collisions involve riders 12 and younger. The majority of calls involve older teenagers.
The council will return for a second reading and final approval at a future meeting.
