The Orange County District Attorney’s Office announced on Wednesday the formation of a new e-bike and e-motorcycle unit called RIDE SAFELY (Smart Accountability For E-Bikes and E-Motos and Law Enforcement for Youth).

This initiative aims to address the rising number of e-bike and e-motorcycle incidents. The unit will operate within the Family Protection Division and involve prosecutors from both the Family Protection and Juvenile Justice units.

District Attorney Todd Spitzer emphasized the importance of consistent legal actions, stating, "I don’t want a situation where one prosecutor looks at these cases more leniently or more harshly." The unit will work closely with law enforcement to ensure thorough investigations and uniformity in charging decisions and sentencing recommendations.

The announcement follows a series of criminal charges against parents in Orange County whose children were involved in serious or fatal e-motorcycle crashes. For instance, Tommi Jo Mejer, a mother from Aliso Viejo, faces involuntary manslaughter charges after her son allegedly killed a Vietnam veteran in Lake Forest.

Coinciding with this announcement, Huntington Beach hosted a safety symposium to discuss the dangers of e-bikes and e-motorcycles. More than 200 attendees, including parents and law enforcement officials, gathered to share experiences and brainstorm solutions. Duke and Val Aipa, who lost their son in an e-bike accident, shared their story to raise awareness.

The symposium highlighted the power and speed of these vehicles, with some capable of reaching 60 mph, attracting young, inexperienced drivers. California officials have issued consumer alerts, and retailers like Amazon have responded by halting sales of certain high-speed e-bikes.

Tim Conway Jr