ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — This week the St. Petersburg Police Department conducted a special operation targeting e-bike misuse.
The crackdown comes after three fatal accidents this month, where the e-bike riders were allegedly at fault.
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St. Petersburg Police issued 161 tickets to electronic mobility device users over three days this week
The targeted enforcement operation was in response to three fatal e-bike accidents this month
Officers were looking for people riding down the wrong side of the road, running stop signs or red lights, and lane splitting
“We’re out here trying to do the enforcement to try to curb that problem,” said Sgt. Michael Schade. “The biggest problem we’re seeing is just that the bicycles and the scooter operators are not following the basic rules of the road.”
The targeted enforcement was conducted from Wednesday through Friday with officers looking out for riders on e-bikes, e-scooters, and uni-wheels. The violations officers said they saw were people riding down the wrong side of the road, running stop signs or red lights, and lane splitting.
“The scooters can’t ride tandem,” Schade said. “The uni-wheels can’t be on the road at all, road or sidewalk.”
Schade said officers issued 68 citations on Wednesday, 24 on Thursday and 69 on Friday.
The enforcement on Thursday night involved a large group of e-riders who completely take over the road when they go from North Shore Park to Beach Drive in downtown St. Petersburg. Due to complaints, police said the group, which rides on a regular basis, was stopped and warned over the summer about restrictions on the various mobility devices.
On Friday, Spectrum News went on a ride-a-long with Schade, who quickly spotted a man who allegedly ran a red light on a bicycle. He stopped the man and explained the problem.
“You went through the red light, OK?” Schade said. “So, we’re out here doing bike enforcement because we’ve had several fatalities related to bicycles.”
The rider, Patrick Jarrell, was issued a $64 ticket. Jarrell said he understood why he was stopped.
“They’re doing their job. There’s a lot of accidents out here,” he said. “So I’m glad they’re doing it. Unfortunately, I’m not loving this, but it is what it is.”
Another rider on an e-scooter, who allegedly ran a stop sign at the Pier, did not stop when ordered by Schade. The man fled on his scooter until Schade caught up with him near the Vinoy. The man was arrested on charges including fleeing and eluding, DUI, possession of marijuana and no driver’s license.
Schade said any scooter motor that’s stronger than 750 watts is considered a motor vehicle. He said the e-scooter the man was riding has 5,600 watts.
“It’s capable of doing over 50 miles an hour,” he said. “So, this is actually classified as a motorcycle.”
The problem is being seen all over the city, police say. In the Harbor Isle neighborhood, resident Geoff Davis said he and his neighbors have been having problems with kids on e-bikes riding in backyards and cutting in between homes.
“They literally trespass on everybody’s property,” he said. “These are dirt bikes that are very high horsepower, very high powered, and they’re very fast.”
Davis said the kids also race their e-bikes on 16th Street N.E., because it’s a long straight road.
“It goes all the way down there like a big drag strip,” he said. “This is where we routinely see donuts, tire marks, drag racing kids on these e-bikes, doing wheelies up and down the street. This is where they play.”
Schade said officers have been seeing people from all ages riding recklessly on electronic mobility devices — from 12 years old to 60. He said the three fatal accidents all involved adults.
Davis said he’s thrilled the police conducted a special operation on e-rider who break the rules, especially the kids.
“The issue is the sheer number of them and the fact that they’re not regulated,” he said. “The parents do not understand what they’re doing. They’re contributing to something that can get these children injured or killed.”