Four Kids Charged For Riding Dirt Bikes On Public Streets: Ridgewood Police

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Police in Ridgewood have been impounding dirt bikes and charging children for riding them on public streets, they said.

Police said on Thursday that dirt bikes can be ridden in certain areas, but it's illegal to ride them on public streets.

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Parents may be confused because new, electronic dirt bikes may resemble e-bikes, but can travel at much higher speeds, officials said.

Four children have been charged this year with dirt bike-related offenses, and their bikes were impounded, a police spokesperson told Patch. These two bikes were impounded this week:

Captain Glenn Enders said, "We recently transitioned from our educational campaign to enforcement. This is the fourth electric dirt bike we have impounded under New Jersey Statute 39:3C-35. Yes, parents must pay if they want them back."

Ender said that the two juveniles who rode the bikes above were charged with:

• Driving without a license
• Driving an unregistered motor vehicle
• Operating a ATV on a public roadway

These vehicles fall under laws that pertain to all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, and dirt bikes.

By state law, parents can pay $500 to get the vehicle back, if it's a first offense.

"Parents, before you buy an electric dirt bike, please know the law," the police said in a message.

"The Ridgewood Police Department has seen an increase in juveniles riding Sur-Ron, Talaria, E Ride Pro, Rawrr, Ventus, Segway, and other high-powered electric dirt bikes on public streets, sidewalks, parks, and bike paths. Many parents believe these vehicles are simply electric bicycles ('e-bikes') that can legally be ridden on the road. Unfortunately, that is not the case."

They added, "Unlike a legal low-speed electric bicycle, these vehicles: do not have fully operable pedals, can travel at speeds well above 28 mph, produce significantly more power than New Jersey law allows for electric bicycles, are designed and marketed as off-road motorcycles rather than street-legal bicycles."

"Our goal is education and safety—not enforcement," police said. "These machines are capable of motorcycle-like speeds and acceleration, creating significant safety risks for the rider, pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists when operated on public roads."

They added, "Please help keep our community safe by ensuring your child rides only where these vehicles are legally permitted."