Legislation banning devices that can modify an electric bike’s speed — so that it no longer can be considered an e-bike — is before the governor.
From Assemblymember Diane Dixon, R-Newport Beach, the bill bans the sale of “tuning kits” that change an e-bike’s motor to allow for faster speeds.
California law has speed guidelines for e-bikes, the bill notes. For example, a Class 1 bike has a motor that kicks in when a rider is pedaling and tops out at 20 mph; a Class 3 motor is meant to stop at 28 mph and those bikes include speedometers. Modifying the speed of e-bikes is illegal and unsafe, Dixon said in an analysis of the bill, and the legislation bans the sale of devices that make those alterations.
“I introduced this measure due to concerns about e-bike speed and safety in my district,” said Dixon, noting the bill is the first of hers to make it to the governor this session. “AB 1774 aims to protect our communities and bike riders by encouraging safe bike practices, and I hope the governor adds his signature to it.”
In June, the OC Grand Jury implored cities to adopt their own rules for e-bikes. In its report, the grand jury said rules and regulations for e-bikes – and the enforcement of those – vary across Orange County.
“Currently, there are significant differences in policy across cities,” the report said. “The recent surge in e-bike usage calls for immediate action to strengthen city oversight of this issue.”
Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, D-Irvine, is a co-author of the bill.
In other news
• More than a dozen high school and college-age young adults trekked to Sacramento last week to meet with legislators, including several in Orange County’s delegation. Members of a group called Voters of Tomorrow California, they were there to advocate for three education-related bills: one that would ensure high schools are making condoms available for students, one that expands menstruation health education in grades 7-12 in public schools, and one that emphasizes greater civic engagement teaching, including on how to register to vote.
“We believe all Californians deserve sufficient education,” said Dzian Tran, 19, a student at UC Berkeley who was part of the lobbying group. “School is the first place where you can learn, and then when you go into the real world, what you’ve learned in school drives how you can make decisions about your own body.”
UCLA student Aashi Jhawer said the experience showed legislators not to underestimate young people who can organize and rally for certain bills.
“Our team really felt like we were received quite well by the vast majority,” said Jhawer, 19. “They really wanted to hear what we had to say. They generally seemed open to hearing what the youth really want, and that includes the Orange County delegation as well.”
Voters of Tomorrow California is a Generation Z-led organization that engages young people in government and politics.
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• Sen. Tom Umberg introduced a bill last week to prohibit law enforcement from purchasing military equipment, such as drones, that is deemed unsuitable for use by the U.S. military. Umberg, in a news release, pointed to the grounding of Chinese company DJI drones by the Defense and Interior departments over potential national security threats. These drones are used by Orange County police forces.
“From scanning terrain for lost hikers to assessing wildfire risk, it’s understandable that drones have become a critical tool of local agencies and governments,” said Umberg. “That said, the fact that the Pentagon has prohibited equipment from a specific company due to fears of spying should raise bright red flags for all consumers.”
“This is a very quickly evolving industry with technology development often moving light years faster than government procurement processes. It’s important that California agencies stay up-to-date and mirror federal homeland security and consumer protection guidance in this arena.”
The bill is expected to be heard in the Assembly Public Safety Committee this week.
• An effort from Sen. Josh Newman, D-Fullerton, to change the state’s recall process got the OK from the Assembly Elections Committee last week. The measure, which would need to be OK’d by voters, would eliminate the second question in a recall effort where voters pick a replacement. Instead, if a recall effort is successful,then the office would be empty until it’s filled by whatever process is laid out in state statute to fill a vacancy. (For the state’s chief executive, for example, the lieutenant governor would step into the position.)
Newman was successfully recalled in 2018 after voting to raise the gas tax to help pay for future transportation projects and road improvements. But he won his seat back in 2020.
An important note: The legislature has until Wednesday to add on last-minute propositions to the 2024 general election ballot.
