RENO, Nev. (KOLO) -Sparks City Attorney Wes Duncan examines current state statues governing motorcycles scooters. and mopeds.
The words appear in several different sections.
An e-bike is distinguished by pedals needed to move forward.
An e-motorcycle is powered purely by battery.
Duncan says perhaps the first thing this study must tackle is the definition of an e-motorcycle as the word does not appear anywhere in state law.
“We’ve got to have clarity in Title 43 which is where the meaning of these type of motorcycles, mopeds, e scooters, e-bikes,” says Duncan. “We have got to figure out and lay out the definitions for what we are talking about. For a lot of folks, a lot of people use the e-bike and e-motorcycle interchangeably. They are totally two different things.”
Duncan says the city of Sparks has been pretty aggressive monitoring e-motorcycles.
That’s because both teens and their parents may not understand these are in fact motorcycles. The different categories of e-motorcycles depend upon the power of the battery which in turn dictates just how fast the motorcycle can go.
Using these motorcycles in open range is no problem.
But a high-powered e-motorcycle, either purchased that way or modified, taken out in neighborhoods or city streets, is a completely different thing.
“If they are going 50-miles an hour that should be driven only off road,” says Duncan. Or if you are driving that on the road you have to be licensed. You have to be registered. And you have to have the proper safety equipment on it. And insurance as well.”
Duncan says many city and county ordinances talk about wattage generated by the battery to differentiate the different kinds of e-motorcycles.
He says that needs to be changed to the maximum speed an e-motorcycle can attain or miles per hour. That way everyone knows what kinds of e-motorcycles are impacted by various statues.
If indeed the assembly committee comes up with a drafted bill or bills affecting e-motorcycles, based upon the study they conduct, Duncan sees that as a good thing.
That’s because city and county regulations will be uniform and parents and their kids will have clarity on what is and isn’t street legal and not have to play a guessing game.
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