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Posted on 09/24/2026 8:53:22 AM PDT by DFG
OVIEDO, Fla. - An 11-year-old boy in Oviedo will likely have to miss school to attend a mandatory court date after he was arrested, cited, and released to his parents for riding an electric dirt bike on the street without a driver's license.
It comes as state and local governments, cities and law enforcement, continue to discuss how to safely regulate the rising use of electric bikes and scooters, micromobility devices, and standard motorcycles or vehicles.
Florida 11-year-old arrested, cited for riding e-bike
Chris Kirchner, the boy's father, said the sixth grader was riding his bike on the shoulder of the road, roughly 300 feet from their home on Labor Day, Sept. 7, when an Oviedo police officer stopped him.
The boy, with his fishing pole in hand, was on his way to fish at a nearby pond, his dad said, adding that the electric dirt bike is capped at 20 miles per hour.
"Do you consider a child’s dirt bike a motorcycle? I don't. But by the law – by technical standards, it is," Kirchner said.
"The officer treated him as if he was an adult on a motorcycle and asked him for his license, registration, proof of insurance—which obviously he doesn't have that, he's a child."
The other side: A spokesperson for the City of Oviedo confirmed the boy was stopped, arrested, and cited for riding a dirt bike in the road, but clarified that the boy's bike was classified as a motorcycle under Florida law.
"The vehicle the 11-year-old was driving was a 4500-watt motorcycle without any pedals. In order for it to be legally allowed on the roadway, it would need to be registered and meet the D.O.T. requirements for motorcycles. The driver/rider would be required to have a driver’s license w/ motorcycle endorsement. There were multiple violations where citations could have been issued, but the officer only issued one.
The officer issued one citation under Fla. Stat. 320.02 for an unregistered vehicle. The statute requires a mandatory court appearance. Fla Statute 322.15 requires drivers’ identification when they are stopped. If they do not have proper identification. The rider did not have a driver’s license, so a fingerprint was placed on the citation to comply with statute. The electric motorcycle was towed since it is not legally allowed on the roadway.
Our officers work diligently to educate parents and kids on what an e-bike is and what is not considered an e-bike, as well as how to be safe when riding. We have completed community outreach, social media and have information on our website. The goal of the police department is to keep the pedestrians, bicyclists and the motoring public safe."
Oviedo Mayor Megan Sladek called Cade a "good kid," but explained that law enforcement officers are required to strictly follow state definitions regarding motorized vehicles – their hands were tied, she said.
"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."
Bodycam video Local perspective: Body camera footage recorded the moment Cade was cited and instructed on his court obligations, with an officer issuing him a warning: "You've got to show up or they'll put out a warrant."
Cade's dad asked if he could put the bike in his truck and bring it back home, but the officer refused. Instead, it was seized and towed.
Difference in definitions: Electric bicycle, micromobility device, motorcycle
Dig deeper: Here is a look at some of the definitions under Florida Statute:
Electric bicycle: A bicycle or tricycle equipped with fully operable pedals, a seat or saddle for the use of the rider, and an electric motor of less than 750 watts which meets the requirements of one of the following three classifications:
(a) "Class 1 electric bicycle" means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the electric bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour. (b) "Class 2 electric bicycle" means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the electric bicycle and that ceases to provide assistance when the electric bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.
(c) "Class 3 electric bicycle" means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the electric bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour. Micromobility Device: A motorized transportation device designed for individual use which is typically 20 to 36 inches in width and 50 pounds or less in weight and which operates at a speed of typically less than 15 miles per hour but no more than 28 miles per hour. This term includes both a human-powered and a nonhuman-powered device such as a bicycle, electric bicycle, motorized scooter, or any other device that is owned by an individual or part of a shared fleet.
Motorcycle: Any motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground. The term includes an autocycle, but does not include a tractor, a moped, an electric bicycle, or any vehicle in which the operator is enclosed by a cabin unless it meets the requirements set forth by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for a motorcycle.
What's next: Cade and his dad will attend the boy's court hearing next week. He hopes that prosecutors will decide to dismiss the charges given his son's age and circumstances.
The City of Oviedo is actively working to establish clearer local guidelines. City leaders are scheduled to hold a work session on a proposed micro-mobility ordinance ahead of a formal vote on Oct. 5.
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Matt Van Swol 09/24/2026 X post:
Outrage is erupting after an 11-YEAR-OLD BOY was stopped by police, FINGERPRINTED, and ordered to court for riding his dirt bike to go FISHING...
...300 FEET FROM HIS OWN HOUSE!!!
They TOWED HIS BIKE with a city WRECKER.
An officer warned him he'd get a WARRANT if he didn't show up, he'll have to miss school for it.
His name is Cade, he's 11 years old, a sixth grader in Oviedo, Florida.
His dad helped him start a little summer business selling squirrel tables and Cade worked all summer long, he saved up $900 and he bought that bike himself.
An 11-year-old entrepreneur, in 2026.
We should be putting this kid on a FREAKING POSTER!!!!
On Labor Day, Cade grabbed his fishing pole and rode toward the pond at Sweetwater Park, he was on the shoulder of the road, about 300 FEET from his house.
Why not the sidewalk?
His answer: "If I go on the sidewalk, I can only go 10mph, and also it's going to scare the pedestrians."
An 11-year-old thinking about pedestrians' safety!
Then, an Oviedo police officer pulled him over.
Asked him for his license, his registration, his proof of insurance.
THE KID IS ELEVEN.
Then they fingerprinted him.
Wrote him a citation with a mandatory court date and told this little boy, on camera, "You have to show up, OK? Or they're going to put out a warrant for you."
Then they called in the city tow truck!!!!!!
His dad's words: "They called in the city wrecker for this little, tiny electric bike and winched it on up there."
Next Tuesday, Cade has to skip school to stand in front of a judge.
Yes TECHNICALLY the police have a point under Florida law, but where was the common sense?!!!!
Cade now says: "Now I'm kind of scared to ride my dirt bike."
A Virginia mom got a criminal record for letting her son walk to a pond, two little girls in Pennsylvania got hauled into court over a broken swing, and now an 11-year-old in Florida gets printed for riding to go fishing.
We are criminalizing childhood in this country.
Even THE TOWN MAYOR called Cade a "good kid." She's right.
...and for the love of God, somebody give this kid his bike back.
WE DO NOT HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THIS!!!!
https://x.com/mattvanswol/status/2103127180762865964/video/1
I have seen under 16 year olds in FL driving crazy on e-bike, sometimes careening toward other vehicles to make them brake. It’s possible the police are reacting to complaints in the community.
‘It’s possible the police are reacting to complaints in the community.’
Very.
something kids have done from the start... what the hell is the difference between that and a normal bicycle? Just chew the kids butt and send him home. Some cops just love messing with people who dont shoot back... he is a real hero...
When I was a kid lots of my friends had dirt bikes, although this e-bike does not really sound like one. One family in the neighborhood used to compete in the “scrambles” circuit in New England (that’s what they called it before it became “Motocross”) all summer. Everyone knew you could be ticketed for driving them on public roads. Not likely to happen in our semi-rural suburb, but a risk you faced.
the government is here to help us!
You are 100% correct in your assumption. These electric vehicles have become a huge traffic hazard in FL. and other places.
Now, it has become popular for gangs of “youths” to take over busy intersections on the bikes, scooters, etc.
LEO’s are under pressure to clean up the mess.
Not saying this kid deserved what he got.
The small Hondas and “mini-bikes” were always illegal to ride unless licensed driver and vehicle. A few kids in our neighborhood would scoot around the neighborhood hoping a cop wasn’t coming around the corner.
Mostly they got away with it. Sometimes they didn’t.
Not much difference. Kid got caught. If it ain’t got pedals it ain’t a bicycle.
If there are complaints in this town it is about the stupidity of the mayor and Police. The city officials are dangerous...
WTF! When I was a kid here in commiefornia I got at least 5 tickets, before I was 16, for riding my dirtbike on the street. They never took it away with a tow truck. Just wrote us a ticket and said push it home.
We’re talking around 1971 to 76.
“what the hell is the difference between that and a normal bicycle?”
About 40 mph for one thing.
Kids are getting severely injured and killed on those things.
My city council just passed an ordinance the other day restricting the speed and other things related to these infernal contraptions.
Having said all that, I blame the parents....that’s who REALLY needs to be held accountable IMO.
When I was a kid, if my parents found out I was being a jackass THEY handled it, they didn’t need the police to do it.
See how ppl defend him? No self-awareness. He’s put above concerns of the community and law enforcement. He’s on a dopamine loop already. Wonderful.
Vaping THC by 18
Meth by 20
Fentanyl by 22
Homeless at 24
Dead by 30
Good job raising a kid by giving them what they want rather than guidance and civic responsibility.
“11-year-old Florida boy arrested, ordered to appear in court for electric dirt bike”. I didn’t get arrested the time I was riding my Yamaha dirt bike on the street and sidewalks, just a lot of tickets.
There are thousands of people, young and old, riding those battery powered machines on the streets and highways every day.
And not just bicycles -there are tricycles and stand up scooters too.
So - how do you single out one 11 year old for disobeying the law when there are so many others being ignored?
I’m not advocating breaking the law or letting law breakers go because those things are a danger to the users and drivers of cars and trucks.
I’m just commenting on what a pervasive nuisance those machines have become and how their numbers seem to overwhelm law enforcement to the point that one arrest of an 11 year old is news.
To be classified as a bike it needs to have pedals. Ran into this in Tucson too.
I wonder if they arrested you, fingerprinted you, and towed away your bike the first time, there would not have been 4 subsequent times.
Is this why they’re always riding on the sidewalk? Police don’t give a shit about that it seems. I remember being harassed endlessly as a kid riding minibikes however. Society is nothing but a collection of mixed signals.
Having watched them on the street in the real world ...
Yes. Some of them perform like gasoline powered motorcycles ... and are often ridden recklessly by kids who are old enough to know better.
Having watched them on the street in the real world ...
Yes. Some of them perform like gasoline powered motorcycles ... and are often ridden recklessly by kids who are old enough to know better.
I’ve actually seen complaints about this town and the twisted interpretation of the laws. I hope someone has provided legal services for this family. No matter the charge you are unlikely to be able to win without one.
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