Suffolk County Enacts Comprehensive E-Bike and E-Scooter Regulations After Safety Concerns

Suffolk County has implemented sweeping new regulations for electric bikes and scooters following years of mounting safety concerns and enforcement challenges, according to county officials.

The Suffolk County Legislature unanimously approved two companion local laws on December 16, and County Executive Ed Romaine signed the measures on December 30. The laws took effect immediately upon filing with the New York Secretary of State.

According to legislative findings, lawmakers adopted the measures in response to rising accidents, complaints, and reports of reckless riding, particularly among younger operators using high-speed devices in areas shared with motor vehicles and pedestrians.

Between 2023 and 2024, county lawmakers and law enforcement officials recorded an increase in incidents involving e-bikes and scooters traveling at unsafe speeds, weaving through traffic, riding without helmets, and using sidewalks and pedestrian areas not meant for motorized vehicles, according to county records. Legislators also cited the growing availability of more powerful electric devices capable of reaching speeds similar to motor vehicles.

County officials noted persistent confusion regarding where such devices may legally operate under New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law, which classifies and regulates e-bikes and electric scooters but does not provide a registration framework for many models. That lack of clarity has complicated enforcement efforts at the local level, lawmakers said.

The new county laws establish several key restrictions now in effect across Suffolk County. Electric-assist bicycles, electric scooters, and motorized scooters are prohibited from operating on sidewalks anywhere in the county, according to the legislation. The devices may not be used on county or local roads with posted speed limits exceeding 30 miles per hour unless a municipality has adopted more restrictive rules.

Children aged 15 and younger are prohibited from operating these devices on public property or roadways, according to the new regulations.

The legislation establishes standards of conduct intended to curb dangerous riding practices. Operators are prohibited from reckless operation, including weaving through traffic, performing trick riding in areas with active traffic or pedestrians, and failing to comply with lawful orders issued by police officers, according to county officials. Operating these devices while impaired by alcohol or drugs is also prohibited on public roads and in parking lots open to motor vehicle traffic, consistent with state impaired-operation laws.

County laws require helmets for all operators and passengers of electric-assist bicycles and motorized scooters, regardless of age, according to the legislation. Helmets must meet applicable New York State safety standards. Electric scooter operators are subject to helmet requirements consistent with state law, while the county provisions impose broader local requirements where permitted.

Penalties for violations increase based on repeat offenses, according to the new laws. A first violation may result in fines of up to $500 and impoundment of the device. A second violation within five years is considered an unclassified misdemeanor and carries increased fines and mandatory impoundment. Third or subsequent violations within a five-year period may result in fines of up to $5,000 and a potential jail sentence of up to one year.

Law enforcement officers are authorized to seize devices used unlawfully, including those operated by underage riders, according to county officials. Parents or legal guardians of minors found in violation may be held financially responsible for fines and restitution related to damage to county property.

The measures, introduced as Introductory Resolutions 1835-2025 and 1836-2025, establish a unified, countywide regulatory framework for electric scooters, electric-assist bicycles, and motorized scooters after several years of legislative debate over safety and enforcement challenges related to the rapid growth of electric mobility devices on local roads and walkways.