"If you can seat us away from under the bird's nest there's an extra peanut in it for you."
Posted on 09/25/2026 9:32:53 AM PDT by Red Badger
An 11-year-old’s ride to a fishing spot in Oviedo, Florida, ended with police stopping him, fingerprinting him, towing his electric dirt bike, and ordering him to appear in court.
Cade Kirchner, a sixth grader, was riding toward a nearby pond with his fishing pole on Labor Day, September 7.
His father, Chris Kirchner, said Cade was about 300 feet from home and traveling on the road’s shoulder.
The family says the bike was limited to 20 miles per hour. FOX 35 Orlando reported that police classified it as a motorcycle under Florida law.
They say the 4,500-watt machine has pegs instead of pedals, so Florida law classifies it as a motorcycle, not an e-bike, meaning it needs registration, insurance, a motorcycle endorsement, and a licensed adult rider.
The citation was issued under Florida Statute 320.02 for an unregistered vehicle, which requires a court appearance.
Because Cade had no driver’s license, they put his fingerprint on the ticket to satisfy ID rules. The bike was towed because it “is not legally allowed on the roadway.”
Oviedo Mayor Megan Sladek called Cade a “good kid” but said officers’ hands were tied by state definitions. Police added they could have piled on more citations and chose only one.
"The State of Florida regulates motorcycle use, and the definition of what counts as a motorcycle and what counts as an e-bike," Mayor Sladek said.
"Even if it has two wheels, if it doesn't have pedals, the State of Florida will classify that as a motorcycle and not as an e-bike."
Body-camera footage shows an officer warning Cade that he had to appear in court or “they’re going to put out a warrant.”
The hearing is scheduled for a school day, meaning the sixth grader will have to miss class. ClickOrlando reported that his father plans to ask prosecutors to dismiss the case.
According to the news outlet, Cade got his e-bike after raising $900 through his summer business selling squirrel tables.
Video via Fox35 Orlando:
VIDEO AT LINK.................
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Same here. Squirrel tables.
“Now, my own suspicion is that the universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose.”
—J.B.S. Haldane’s 1927 essay “Possible Worlds.”
“Deputy Fife was only doing his job.”
There’s a LOT more implications/facts to consider on the subject than your thoughtless insult suggests.
Maybe you should consider such things.
For those who haven’t experienced the “bigger picture”, I encourage a reading of this:
https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/oviedo-winter-garden-e-bikes-rules-ordinance-fines
Fl. has some serious issues with the judgement of their police. Drug dealing is rampant, murders are overwhelming and hit and run goes on constantly and the police arrest a child for riding a bike with a battery. The local police should be replaced for bad judgement.
Fl. has some serious issues with the judgement of their police. Drug dealing is rampant, murders are overwhelming and hit and run goes on constantly and the police arrest a child for riding a bike with a battery. The local police should be replaced for bad judgement.
Agree. I’ve seen very young kids driving these things on the street. High speed, and no idea about rules of the road or how to stay safe.
This isn’t riding a dirt bike in the country. I’m taking about city/suburban settings with lots of people and traffic.
The bike is another matter. By impounding it, that makes the dad go through the loops he should have in the first place. If he has a problem with that, he can take it up with the seller.
Yes, under Florida law, it's considered a motorcycle because it has no pedals, power is over 750W and is capable of speeds in excess of 28mph.
The rider has to have a driver license with motorcycle endorsement.
To be street-legal, a motorcycle is required to have lights, turn signals, registration and insurance.
This has become a big problem for Oviedo. The police tried education & warnings. It didn't work.
Now they've moved onto enforcement. They're issuing citations, fines and impounding.
The best way to get someone's attention is to hit them where it counts; in the wallet.
The dad knew the motorcycle wasn't street legal, yet knowingly let the kid ride illegally on the public road.
Now he gets to lose work to take the kid to court, pay a fine, towing and impound fees.
Dangerous riding: 'Reckless' e-bike usage leads to multiple citations for Oviedo teens
Police said teens are using these devices to travel the wrong way on major roads, using them recklessly at pedestrians, riding them into impending traffic, dodging vehicles dangerously and conducting meetups – where large groups take over roadways.
Oviedo Police's Lieutenant Adam Egert says e-bikes and e-scooters have become an increasing problem, saying, "Kids are playing chicken with cars."
‘We’re done with warnings'
On Tuesday, January 6, Oviedo Police officers issued around one dozen citations to students outside Jackson Heights Middle School. Officers monitored the teens arriving at the middle school after receiving complaints about students speeding and riding recklessly to school.
Several months prior, the department said it attempted to educate riders about using e-bikes safely by posting information online and on social media pages. However, following Christmas break, Egert said they’ve seen an uptick not only in electric scooters and bikes, but also an uptick in children driving them dangerously.
"We’ve tried education, now we’re at the enforcement level," he said. "I’d rather have a good interaction with a kid than a negative interaction with the whole family."
It could have been worse
"Many of the citations issued were written with discretion and provided less severe violations," the department said in a statement.
Each citation comes with a $116 fine, according to Egert, but the lieutenant said officers went easy on the young offenders.
"They could have handed out moving violations – as well as criminal citations for operating a motor vehicle," he said.
One of the kids officers stopped had a device capable of reaching around 50 miles per hour, Egert said. Several of the bikes stopped on Thursday didn't have pedals, the department said.
"If it has no pedals, you have to have a driver’s license. That’s bottom line," Egert said. "If it’s over 750 watts, or it can travel over 28 miles an hour, it’s not legal on the road without a driver’s license."
That’s a Florida Man move, but there’s more elevation change than I would expect in Florida.
Pedal, and they do Typical e-bikes are 750 watt, this was a 4500 watt e-moto that most states require license, insurance, and registration.,
Pedal, and they do Typical e-bikes are 750 watt, this was a 4500 watt e-moto that most states require license, insurance, and registration.,
Pedal, and they do Typical e-bikes are 750 watt, this was a 4500 watt e-moto that most states require license, insurance, and registration.,
“Someone is going to die soon”
Kids are already getting killed on E bikes.
My city council just passed an ordinance limiting speed and other aspects of them.
I doubt the police have time to enforce it but we’ll see.
Here’s a clue....the arresting officer was a female...my gut says the father may be the target here.
What everyone was curious about!
Now someone needs to write a semi-kick-ass country song about “screwin’ yer corncobs down real good”.
I would be surprised if this was a one off incident...
Id expect this insanity in a commie state but NOT Florida
This has become a big problem for Oviedo. They tried education & warnings. It didn't work. (See my post above)
Now they're getting the parents' attention by issuing citations with mandatory court appearances, levying fines and impounding the vehicles.
Yeah it’s more than just no pedals.
But no pedals automatically makes it not a bicycle or E bike.
You need a licence for anything other than a bicycle or E bike. What licence you need is where engine size and HP matter but you must still have some licence , insurance and registration on public roads which includes shoulders or really anywhere not your private property.
Here is Florida exact laws.
Texas is similar.
No pedals is automatically a motorcycle.
If it has pedals , and is more than 750 watts or goes 28mph or more not hard limited by a not user adjustable limiter then its legally a motorcycle even with pedals.
Texas says full M endorsement , total, registration, plates, and liability insurance too.
They heavily enforce it in North Texas we have kids on 5000 watt motorcycles no tags, no helmets and then the parents are floored when they get $2000 driving without a licence, insurance and registration tickets. Read the laws dummies.
From the article: "According to the news outlet, Cade got his e-bike after raising $900 through his summer business selling squirrel tables."
Now he gets to lose work to take the kid to court, pay a fine, towing and impound fees.
I didn't go to the source article, but from this it looks like the dad didn't know. IMHO, to inform them of such is the responsibility of the seller, or should be in all transactions re motor vehicles.
Heaven forbid he opens up a lemonade stand.
The cop should have taken the kid home with his bike and explained to the parents. No ticket, no warning ticket, just get the parents on the same page with you.
"If you can seat us away from under the bird's nest there's an extra peanut in it for you."
Bicycles, including e-bikes, have pedals. E-motorcycles do not. These kids are being loosed onto the streets without any real training or advice and causing some pretty serious accidents. If it ain’t got pedals, rise it til your heart is content, on your own property. If you want to ride them outside of that, register and insure the bike and license the rider.
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