OCEANSIDE — Oceanside will allow police to seize e-bikes and ban double riding under new safety laws aimed at curbing reckless riding after calls for service surged nearly 1,200% since 2021.
The City Council unanimously adopted two amendments to its E-bike Safety Ordinance on Wednesday. City leaders say the changes are needed to address repeat violations, protect pedestrians and motorists as complaints and collisions rise.
The new amendments go into effect 30 days after the council’s approval.
OPD Cpt. Scott Garrett said calls for service have skyrocketed from 69 in 2021 to 918 in 2025. At least 135 citations have been issued since September 2024, with roughly 37% of those, or 50 citations, being resolved through the city’s educational diversion program.
The city, though, is not taking part in Assembly Bill 2234, which allows a municipality to ban riders under 12, along with other measures. San Marcos, Poway, Del Mar, Chula Vista, and Coronado have all adopted the pilot program under AB 2234, while Carlsbad will discuss it sometime in the coming weeks.
“These efforts reflect our commitment to an education-first model,” Garret explained, “however, operational experience, particularly with youth offenders, shows that citation and education are not sufficiently deterring by repeated and unsafe riding.”
The council passed its e-bike ordinance in 2024, and required helmets for all riders under 18, must comply with all traffic laws, no double riding unless the e-bike is designed for it, and restricted areas such as The Strand, Oceanside Pier, and certain sidewalks, among others.
Still, the issue has only grown as residents have lodged hundreds of complaints, while collisions have also been a concern, although OPD didn’t report on the number of collisions or at-fault rates.
Regardless, most calls have been about reckless riding on sidewalks, at parks and the beach, Garrett said. He said those riders pose a risk to public safety.
“Staff believes this unique and balanced amendment, including temp seizure, is an important tool to deter reckless and unsafe riding, mitigate future complaints and lower calls for service,” Garrett added. “The loss of an e-bike acts a strong deterrent. It encourages parental involvement to retrieve the bike. Staff is optimistic this amendment will lower repeat incidents and associated complaints by addressing the root of persistent and safe operation without resorting to harsher penalties.”
The proposed updates are designed to address “repeat and reckless” behavior that current education and monetary fines have failed to deter, particularly among youth riders, he said.
Seizure of Electric Bicycles — This allows the chief of police to temporarily seize a Class 1, 2, or 3 e-bike (and e-motorcycles) if the operator is cited for reckless operation, failing to exercise safety, or committing two or more criminal violations within 12 months. The bike is held as evidence until the case is adjudicated, but no storage or impound fees are charged to the owner.
Prohibition on Unauthorized Passengers — This explicitly prohibits “double riding”. Passengers are only allowed if the e-bike is specifically designed and equipped with a separate passenger seat, bringing local law in line with California Vehicle Code § 21204.
Preservation of Education Options — Despite the new seizure authority, riders can still resolve citations by attending either a free bicycle/e-bike safety class, paying a fine, or through traditional court adjudication.
Loss-of-Control Collisions — The practice of “double riding” is specifically cited as a primary contributor to loss-of-control collisions and near-miss incidents with pedestrians.
Youth Involvement — A substantial portion of incidents involve younger riders operating in groups or in prohibited areas, which staff identify as a major safety hazard.
Mayor Esther Sanchez said the amendments will hopefully serve as a strong deterrent and prevent fatalities. She said several people were killed in Carlsbad and doesn’t want Oceanside to get in that situation.
She also asked about school requirements, noting that a parent expressed satisfaction with how the parent’s kids’ school was handling the issue. Sanchez said she was told that if a student did not take a safety class, they could not ride to school.
Garrett said the department’s school resource officers (SROs) and OPD are working with OUSD to address issues of unsafe riding and others.
As for AB 2234, Garrett told Councilman Jimmy Figueroa the reason OPD and staff felt the pilot program wasn’t warranted as the vast majority of incidents are from teenagers and adults. In addition, the new policies apply to any age.
About 5% of reportable incidents are 12 and under, and 11% of enforcement involves the same demographic, Garrett said. The rest are teenagers and adults.
“Our goal is, hopefully, not to seize any bikes,” OPD Chief Taurino Valdovinos told the council. “Hopefully, passing this will deter people from conducting the ride-outs and takeovers and things like that.”
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