Ebike and cops

[sabrewalt]

We have a VERY long but mild hill in our town. There was a kid about 3/4 of the way up the hill and he was going about 3 or 4 miles an hour. Hot as hell. I on the other hand had my MTB Ebike in highest gear possible and pedeling along and blew by the other cyclist going about 16 - 18 mph. I looked over and saw a cop under a tree watching me intently. I gave him a little wave and then began hyperventlating to make it look like I was more winded than I was since I am a bit of a fatass. I was trying to think up answers if he decided to investigate but I am not sure all the electrical junk hanging off my bike even registered in his brain. I guess we need to come up with our own "story" just in case.

 

[Instant Karma]

The cop probably just had a blank stare cause he was coming down off a sugar high from the half dozen doughnuts he had just eaten.

 

[Lowell]

I've been through several speed traps, one on the Lougheed highway doing 65 in a 70 zone, Knight St uphill (8% grade) 50 in a 50, and a few times on #5 Rd right outside my house, also 50 in a 50. Only once did the officer turn to look at me as I went by, the others were intently concentrating on their laser/radar equipment looking for the next speed tax victim.

 

[CGameProgrammer]

Unless you're in Hawaii or New York (or some countries), 18 mph is totally legal in an e-bike, so who cares?

Anyway in California a cop once pulled alongside me when I was at a red light. He told me he didn't mind the e-bike but that I needed to watch my speed (I'd been going 40 mph in a 25 zone) but he didn't try to ticket me or anything. E-bikes can't technically go above 20 mph in CA and still be legal, but I doubt that'll ever be a problem for me.

 

[oatnet]

E-bikes can't technically go above 20 mph in CA and still be legal, but I doubt that'll ever be a problem for me.

California has (2) definitions of electric bikes.

1) With a California M1 (motorcycle) or M2 (moped) license , you can ride an ebike up to 30mph/1500w in CA. The bike must also have a $6 moped license.

2) 16 and up can drive an ebike up to 20mph/1000w.

-JD
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Edit: After a PM asking for details, thought I'd add my response.
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Below is the definition. If you follow through the code, you will see there are different eligibility requirements for 406.a (M1/M2) and 406.b (16 years old).

Section 406
Motorized Bicycle
406.

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406(a) A "motorized bicycle" or "moped" is any two-wheeled or three-wheeled device having fully operative pedals for propulsion by human power, or having no pedals if powered solely by electrical energy, and an automatic transmission and a motor which produces less than 2 gross brake horsepower and is capable of propelling the device at a maximum speed of not more than 30 miles per hour on level ground.

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406(b) A "motorized bicycle" is also a device that has fully operative pedals for propulsion by human power and has an electric motor that meets all of the following requirements:

(1) Has a power output of not more than 1,000 watts.

(2) Is incapable of propelling the device at a speed of more than 20 miles per hour on ground level.

(3) Is incapable of further increasing the speed of the device when human power is used to propel the motorized bicycle faster than 20 miles per hour.

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