AB\u00a0965 closes the purchase loophole for Class\u00a03 electric bicycles and introduces fines that can top\u202f$1,000. California\u2019s youngest riders will soon find it harder to buy the fastest electric bicycles. Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB\u202f965, a measure that bars retailers from selling Class\u00a03 e\u2011bikes to anyone under\u202f16, turning a previous riding ban into a purchase ban and attaching penalties that can balloon to four figures once court costs are added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What the new California electric bicycle purchase restriction actually says in detail? Under AB\u00a0965, any shop that sells a Class\u00a03 model to a minor commits a misdemeanor. Base fines start at\u202f$250, but additional fees can push the total above\u202f$1,000. Riders who help teens skirt the rule can also be cited. Wondering how fast these bikes go? Check the breakdown below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These definitions were first adopted in\u202f2015, but AB\u202f965 is the first law to block minors from buying the swiftest tier outright.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Between 2017 and\u202f2022, micromobility crashes jumped\u202f23\u202fpercent per year nationwide. Electric bicycles alone sent more than\u202f53,000 people to emergency rooms, and kids under\u202f14 accounted for over a third of those visits\u2014even though they make up less than a fifth of the U.S. population. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Scary, right? Orthopedic surgeons in California say they are seeing \u201cmore and more young people with fractures from e\u2011bike accidents,\u201d a trend that helped tip legislative scales in favor of tighter controls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Retailers must verify age before ringing up a Class 3 sale; failure to do so could get expensive fast. Parents should double\u2011check the class label on any e\u2011bike they purchase online, while teens eager for speed might consider a Class 2 model instead. Moreover, AB\u202f965 arrives alongside AB\u202f1774, which outlaws devices that hack e\u2011bike speed limiters, reinforcing a broader push to keep streets safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the end, California\u2019s message is simple: ride green, ride smart, but keep the fastest machines out of younger hands\u2014for now.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"E\u2011bike class<\/th> Motor assistance<\/th> Top assisted speed<\/th> Accelerator allowed<\/th> Age limit<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> Class 1<\/td> Only while pedaling<\/td> 19\u202fmph (32\u202fkm\/h)<\/td> No<\/td> None<\/td><\/tr> Class 2<\/td> Pedal or throttle<\/td> 19\u202fmph (32\u202fkm\/h)<\/td> Yes<\/td> None<\/td><\/tr> Class 3<\/td> Only while pedaling<\/td> 27\u202fmph (45\u202fkm\/h)<\/td> No<\/td> 16\u202f+<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n How rising e\u2011bike injuries among young riders pushed lawmakers to act swiftly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Penalties and next steps for families, retailers and teenage cycling enthusiasts statewide<\/h2>\n\n\n\n