New Colorado e-bike law allows police to hand out tickets to riders’ parents

If your kid has been begging for an e-bike — or already has one — listen up. Colorado’s new law, the Cole Bradley Act, went into effect August 12, and it matters for every family across the Denver metro.

First, know what your kid is actually riding.

If it has working pedals and a motor under 750 watts, it’s an e-bike — no license needed.

But if it’s faster, more powerful or has no pedals, it’s legally an e-motorcycle, and it requires a license, registration and insurance. A lot of what our kids are riding are e-motos, and most parents don’t even realize it.

And tickets are already being handed out. This week, Commerce City police cited three kids and their parents after catching the teens doing wheelies on e-motos on a busy road. The parents were ticketed for permitting unlicensed minors to operate a motor vehicle.

Here’s the reality, though — police admit these bikes are incredibly hard to catch. Kids flee, cut through neighborhoods, and officers can’t safely chase them. So the law is finally here, but parents are still the ones who have to enforce it at home first.

Read more about the new Colorado e-bike ordinance here.