As he sped down a residential street, the juvenile biker turned to look at the cop car, refusing to heed the blaring sirens. Swerving to miss a fence, the biker plowed through a yard, eventually evading police altogether.

A video recently released on the Arapahoe Sheriff’s X account featured this scene, one that is increasingly common around the Denver area.

“This is exactly why reckless e-bike riding is a serious public safety concern,” the department said on the X post. “Too often, riders treat e-bikes like toys. They are not. E-bikes can travel at high speeds and, when operated recklessly, become a danger to pedestrians, motorists and the riders themselves.”

Citizens of the Denver area share this concern, as many have expressed frustration at reckless operation of e-bikes and e-motorcycles by local youth.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office responded to the public on X, saying “We hear you.”

The next step for officials is to hold parents accountable.

Officers responded to “dozens of calls” last Friday for reckless juvenile e-motorcycle driving, the X post said. “Every rider was issued a written warning, and every parent was contacted and warned. If these violations continue, parents could face criminal charges for contributing to the delinquency of a minor.”

The city of Aurora has already enforced this consequence. Officials enacted a law last October stating parents who knowingly permit their children under 18 to drive or ride an off-highway vehicle in violation of city ordinances are subject to a fine of $250 or more, according to Article V, Sec. 134-223 of Aurora’s municipal codes.

Despite the new ordinance, police are finding it difficult to keep e-motorcycle riders in check. Because the bikes reach such high speeds, violators are hard to catch and ticket, police told Denver7 News.

The popularity of e-motorcycles has increased among teenagers in recent years, prompting sellers to tailor marketing to the demographic despite safety risks.

E-moto related injuries and collisions have increased significantly in the last year, according to hospital reports.

“In the Children’s Hospital Colorado Anschutz emergency department in Aurora, last year, we saw 62 e-bike and e-scooter injuries that required trauma surgeon intervention. That really speaks to the increasing frequency of the accidents and the increasing speeds kids are using on these bikes,” Dr. Maria Mandt, one of the hospital’s pediatric emergency medicine doctors, told Denver7 News last month.

One such incident occurred in Boulder County last fall, when a teenager crashed into a pickup truck after losing control of his bike.

The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office is increasingly “responding to crashes and illegal riding reports in the community involving juveniles on e-bikes, electric dirt bikes and gas dirt bikes,” said Fox31 Denver.

This issue has caught the attention of the Colorado General Assembly.

In May, House Bill 26-1079, the Cole Bradley Act, was passed. This bill requires that minors have written permission from their legal guardian to obtain a motorcycle permit.

“In 2024, the state of Colorado recorded 165 motorcycle fatalities, which is the highest number of motorcycle deaths in state history and represents a 57% increase since 2015,” the bill cited as reason for precaution.

The bill involves parents in the high-risk activities of their children, adding a layer of accountability.

So, where and how can riders operate these bikes?

High-powered e-motorcycles that can exceed 28 mph, also known as Class 3 bikes, are illegal on all Denver city bike paths and sidewalks. The rider must possess a driver’s license, registration, and insurance, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. Riders can operate these bikes on main streets and specifically designed paths, as local laws allow.

“This is about safety for the riders, drivers, and everyone sharing our road,” the Douglas County Sheriff said on X. “Parents, please know what your kids are riding, where they’re riding, and the laws that apply.”

For more e-bike/e-moto safety information, visit the Colorado Department of Transportation safety page.