AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 21, 2025

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 10, 2025

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 18, 2025

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

94

CHAPTER 65

Statutes of 2025

[ Approved by Governor July 28, 2025. Filed with Secretary of State July 28, 2025. ]

Introduced by Assembly Member Dixon

February 20, 2025

An act to add Section 21212.5 to the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: yes

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law defines an electric bicycle and classifies electric bicycles into 3 classes with different restrictions. Under existing law, a “class 1 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that, among other things, provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour. Under existing law, a “class 2 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour. Under existing law, a “class 3 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a speedometer and a motor that, in pertinent part, provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour. Existing law prohibits a person under 16 years of age from operating a class 3 electric bicycle. A violation of this provision is punishable as an infraction.

This bill would prohibit a person from selling a class 3 electric bicycle to a person under 16 years of age and would make a violation of that prohibition an infraction punishable by a fine not to exceed $250. By creating a new infraction, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 21212.5 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:

21212.5.

(a) A person shall not sell a class 3 electric bicycle to a person under 16 years of age.

(b) A violation of this section is an infraction and shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed two hundred and fifty dollars ($250).

SEC. 2.

No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.