Friendly Neigborhood Police

[Ur3nigma]

Hello all,

I've, somewhat reluctently joined the e-bike crowd. I got a DUI and cannot drive, so I thought an ebike would be a good way to go. When I initially looked into it I thought everything was cool here in Ogden, UT. However, after I'd already built the bike and $1700 later, I discovered UT wants me to have a license to ride this thing. I don't need insurance, registration, or motorcycle endorsement, but I do need a license. If it were a segway or scooter, I wouldn't need a license. That's how I got confused in the first place about it's legality...

To late and expensive to turn back now. I'm just wondering how much harrassment people have gotten from the friendly neighborhood police on their e-machines around here? I'm pretty sure I can stealth it out pretty good, but that won't explain how I'm going up hills without peddling

[Philistine]

Welcome to the forums, DUI is a well trod path to ebikes. Many of us however keep the ebike habit long after we have get our licenses back

Don't know what the cops are like in Utah, but most people on here (regardless of the state or country they live in), seem to all agree that as long as you are sensible, and keep to reasonable speeds in built up areas and if necessary ghost pedal (ie pedal even when it is doing nothing), then you are fine. For example where I am you are only allowed to have 200W, which barely gets you up a hill, but as long as you ride sensibly, the cops don't really care. As far as I am aware, only one person on this forum has been ticketed with a non-compliant ebike, and as far as I know one other person got a warning. But given the number of people getting around on this website that gives you an idea of the realities of the police approach to ebikes.

It's common sense really, if you are blitzing through a built up area at 40mph then you are going to get hassled, but if you keep to reasonable speeds and ghost pedal, personally I don't think you will ever see the police, the great advantage of ebikes (if done properly) is that they make next to no noise, so why is a cop going to bother you unless you are going too fast or being silly.

[Ypedal]

wear the helmet, gloves, ride safely ( no blowing red lights. and coaxing cars to honk at you ) .. ride sober ( or reasonably not drunk ) .. all should be well.

It's a bicycle.. not a motorcycle.. it does not require a license in any part of the world i am aware of.. we dont force children to have permits to ride their bicycles... neither do adults.

[Philistine]

It's a bicycle.. not a motorcycle.. it does not require a license in any part of the world i am aware of.. we dont force children to have permits to ride their bicycles... neither do adults.

I think the problem is Ypedal that in certain US states, ebikes are legal, but they put a little stinger in that it is legal if the rider has a drivers license, for the very purpose of making life harder for those who have lost their license. I have heard several people on here say that is the law in certain states. But whilst that might technically be the law, why is a cop going to spend his time checking up on things like that (presuming he even is aware of such a law) if you are riding sensibly?

[Ur3nigma]

In UT e-bikes are classified as a moped. They definitely do require a license here. I've resigned myself to riding sensibly and playing dumb if it comes down to it. Here's to hoping all is well... As for when I get my license back in two very long years, I still intend to ride my ebike. It's hard to argue with an virtually free transportation

[neptronix]

What's your bike look like?
Perhaps you could do a stealthy build and have no problems. But you need to pedal.

All you need is a very large front chainring and realistic bike speeds, IE 20-25mph.

[dogman]

Look like a bicycle,( faux pedaling) and don't ride like an ass, and you should be fine. Others here have. Cops may be just as ignorant as you were about the law. Since you aren't making noise and blowing smoke, you get ignored.

Good thing you didn't buy an ebike that tries to look like a small scooter. On those, cops notice you if you ride a bike path, or they know you. They think you are on a motor vehicle. But on a bike shaped object, you can be virtually invisible unless bleeding, or going 35 mph.

Keep a low profile,( like actually stopping at the lights) and I predict the cops completely ignore you. Bet you could even get a stop sign ticket, and they wouldn't snap that you even had an electric motor on the bike.

Ypedal is not correct. Some places any kind of motor makes you a motor vehicle. State law rules the roads in that state. NM is similar, no such thing as an ebike, but happily as mopeds we can go 30 mph, and no watt limits. Looking like a bike, I get ignored and nobody says I can't ride a bike path.

What's your law, and speed limit?

[Ur3nigma]

Utah Code 41-6a-102. Definitions.

(13) "Electric assisted bicycle" means a moped:
(a) with an electric motor with a power output of not more than 1,000 watts; and
(b) which is not capable of:
(i) propelling the device at a speed of more than 20 miles per hour on level ground; and
(ii) increasing the speed of the device when human power is used to propel the device at more than 20 miles per hour.

[motorino magnet]

Careful...

local Highway Traffic Acts ,rules and regs are one thing.


Criminal Code convictions are another.

Check with your area,specifically.

Getting caught by the wrong cop ,on the wrong day ,may be the same fine and conviction as driving your car.

Jail and g notes are doubled and ruin your day.

Here in Ontario Canada.Driving anything with assisted power under a criminal code conviction for DUI-is like driving a car under suspension.

[Lessss]

If you drive drunk on your ebike you will be in a world of hurt with the cops when caught.

[neptronix]

I have a better idea.
Build something that can outrun the cops. Limit the speed to 20mph to prevent a run in

Or go in the opposite direction. Road bile with panniers and a little rear geared motor in back. Get a black bike to hide the wires. use the PAS sensor instead of a throttle.

So stealth, they won't even think about looking for a motor.
And at a maximum of 20mph, they won't have a reason to pull you over unless you're doing something really dumb anyhow..

it's the line between super stealth and rediculously powerful that you need to avoid..

[dogman]

True, given that you presumably are on some kind of probation, getting caught operating a "motor vehicle" could be harsh in terms of how long till you can get that licence back. It could be automatic jail if you had jail time suspended.

So if you do ride the bike, keep your speed down, faux pedal, and blend in. Hide the motor behind panniers if you can, and look as much like a regular bike as possible.

Above 15-20 mph, you will start to look different than most bikes, but 20 mph is not so unusual that you can't blend in nicely. The key thing is this, even that particular cop that hates your ass must look at you, and think you are not motorized. If they see you, and see "bike", chances are they ignore you unless you are breaking some other law.

It's not a question of obeying the moped law so much as having the law think you are not a moped in the first place. So no riding 30 mph and thinking they won't give you a double take. You want the single look, then ignore.

[zombiess]

Some great advice here.

Just a little of my own. If you ride, don't drink, period. If you want to drink, stay home or at a friends place. No drinking and driving period! It doesn't matter what the mode of transport is, stay put until sober or have someone sober get you. Flying under the radar with an ebike will get your mobility back and hopefully the ability to get to a job, pedal assist could be good since it forces you to pedal all the time an no throttle would prevent a cop from guessing your electric.

A two year suspension is pretty harsh so I'm guessing this isn't your first DUI unless Utah is really strict. People make mistakes, few seem to learn from them. If you are drinking often it might be time to re-evaluate what you are doing and get some help.

Good luck.

[Ur3nigma]

I don't drink anymore. It's way more trouble than it's worth. I had a previous DUI back in 2004. Utah will expunge a felony before they will a DUI, and yes, Utah is extremely strict about DUIs. Third one is a felony with manditory prison time.

The ebike is absolutely necessery. Public transit here sucks a$$. I can literally walk to work faster than take the bus and it's 3 miles away.

Anyhow, no drinking and lots of ghost peddling seems to be the prescription...