The Austin Police Department is increasing its enforcement of laws surrounding high-powered electric motorcycles, or e-motos, after residents and city leaders raised concerns about them at the Austin Mobility Committee meeting on Sept. 3.\u00a0<\/p>\n
William White, who oversees the APD\u2019s Highway Enforcement Command, said the crackdown follows a rise in e-motos operating in areas reserved for registered vehicles and bicycles, creating \u201cdangerous traffic situations.\u201d The new focus on enforcement will include giving riders more warnings and citations and arresting riders for more serious violations.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Texas state law classifies e-motos as motorcycles because they fail to meet the definition<\/a> of an e-bike. E-motos differ from e-bikes because they are pedal-less, powered by a motor that exceeds 750 watts and can reach unassisted speeds of 28 mph or more. They require a motorcycle licence, insurance and the user to wear a helmet if they are under 21.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of folks might think that simply because you can buy (e-motos) legally, \u2026 it\u2019s okay for them to operate in the same manner (as e-bikes),\u201d White said. \u201cI could see that as being one of the major factors driving that they believe it\u2019s street legal, so that\u2019s part of the reason we\u2019re trying to make sure that the public is aware that these don\u2019t meet the (same) definition of being street legal.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n APD has circulated bulletins to help officers distinguish e-motos from e-bikes and motorcycles, and it has posted educational videos<\/a> for the public on social media, White said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Zohaib \u201cZo\u201d Qadri, Austin City Council member for District 9 who represents UT and West Campus, co-sponsored a resolution<\/a> in May directing the city to develop clearer rules, expand officer training and launch a public awareness campaign. Qadri said the effort, begun by Council member Paige Ellis, was meant to keep streets safe for pedestrians and cyclists from e-motos, which have proliferated among teenagers and kids.\u00a0<\/p>\n Qadri said he sees existing laws as largely adequate, but enforcement has lagged.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIf people are doing things they shouldn\u2019t be doing, we need to make sure that proper enforcement comes in place,\u201d Qadri said.\u00a0<\/p>\n