Sacramento may get stricter about illegal and reckless riding on electric bikes, motos and scooters. Councilmember Karina Talamantes, who represents South Natomas, Northgate and Gardenland, submitted a policy proposal on Sept. 22 asking city staff to study increased enforcement and penalties for illegal use of electric two-wheeled vehicles.
Why she is pushing it
Talamantes told the Sacramento Bee she was moved by dangerous riding she has seen herself, complaints from constituents and a rise in hospital visits. Her top priority, she said, is working out who in the city has the capacity to enforce the rules. She also said the goal is to curb illegal and dangerous riding without discouraging people from using electric transportation.
Hospital numbers cited in coverage of the proposal show the scale of the change. UC Davis Medical Center recorded roughly 340 e-bike and e-scooter cases in 2025, up from about 70 in 2021, according to the Bee's reporting as summarized by Hoodline.
What the city can do now
Sacramento tightened rules in 2019, but those mostly targeted shared rental scooters and bikes. The city does not currently have enough staff or deputized personnel to consistently cite violators, the Bee reported, and police have leaned on education campaigns, including a safety video and a free monthly urban riding class.
Neighbors are already cracking down
Other agencies in the region have moved faster. KCRA reported that Lincoln police patrol trails on dual-sport motorcycles and have impounded illegal bikes, while Elk Grove has focused on school outreach and passed rules in August keeping e-bikes and e-scooters off sidewalks unless signs allow them. Galt adopted an urgency ordinance that lets police tow illegal devices.
State law already sorts e-bikes into three classes. Class 1 and 2 bikes top out at 20 mph, and Class 3 bikes reach 28 mph and require riders to be at least 16 and wear a helmet. Faster electric dirt bikes count as motorcycles and need a license and registration. Parents can be cited for their children's violations.
What's next
The proposal goes to the council's Law and Legislation Committee, whose next scheduled meeting is Oct. 20, though it is not yet clear when the item will be heard. After that review, city staff would report back on what options are feasible.