Law Enforcement

Social media followers recognize the risk to young riders and damage to local parks and often point toward law enforcement in hopes that they’ll find a solution. The Howl reached out to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and met with Deputy Preston.

“I think that as long as you follow the rules and the laws of e-bikes then you’re good. The problem that we really have is with the illegal bikes like the Surrons. It’s illegal to ride a bike without pedals or that goes that fast in the street. Usually when I see someone riding dangerously or too fast, then I give them a warning. We have a lot of traffic issues because they don’t follow the traffic laws like a regular vehicle would,” said Deputy Preston.

Law enforcement can’t stress enough how much they expect local bike riders to follow the law. While officers know that kids enjoy having fun and like the thrill of riding an e-bike, they don’t want anyone to get injured. As a police officer, they are first on the scene after a 911 call, so they face the truth of teens who ride irresponsibly and wind up in devastating accidents.

“I have seen someone getting hurt. There was someone driving on the street on a Surron, you know not knowing the traffic laws or having a driver’s license. So they don’t know how traffic works and they rode in front of a car and got hit.”