ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – With e-bikes being a hot-button issue in St. Johns County, the county’s Board of Commissioners discussed a proposed ordinance during their Tuesday meeting.
Commissioners went back and forth on the ordinance draft, noting that while it is an important topic that needs to be addressed, it would also be hard to enforce. With no clear stance on the proposal, officials decided to turn the proposed ordinance into a resolution that will be discussed in the future.
“Our sheriff has been out there saying, with all due respect, they don’t have the manpower to enforce this. It’s unenforceable,” Commissioner Sarah Arnold said. “They have, unfortunately, higher priority things that they are seeking out.”
Under the ordinance, anyone under 14 would be prohibited from operating any e-bike, motorcycle, or electric motorized device. It would also require anyone under 18 years old to wear a helmet while riding a motorized device.
Press play below to watch some of the commissioners’ remarks on the proposed ordinance
A St. Johns County deputy spoke about the ordinance on behalf of the sheriff’s office and said that if passed, the sheriff’s office would work to enforce it, but added that education has been their top priority.
“We have been reallocating our school resource deputies over the summer and have already started doing that and made over 200 contacts outside of schools,” the deputy said.
The discussion over e-bikes has become more of a pressing issue recently, as officials are noticing more people on scooters and e-bikes.
In late April, a 12-year-old was sent to the hospital after being critically injured in a crash.
Ken Hinkle, owner of Sprockets Bike Shop, said he likes e-bikes but isn’t sure an ordinance would do any good.
“I see kids all the time in my neighborhood with those motorcycles and the e-bikes buzzing around. And like I said, Do you think the police are going to enforce it? You think the city? Who’s going to enforce it? I know I’m an old, crabby old man. It’s ridiculous. Why? Why waste everybody’s time and giving people hope that something’s going to change,” Hinkle said.
