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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A few little kids come up to the local grocery store on their bikes. We let them park them inside. I like our small lil community half way between two major cities.
Well, can’t tell from the article, but he must have not been a “person of color”.
Cause I see young POC children and adults passing me at speeds over 45 mph with no plates. Lights, and I pretty sure no license or insurance.
Hell, I have seen kids popping wheelies in front of cops and nothing happened.
Yes another No Rules person in action.
4500 watts = 6 horsepower. You can’t ride a 6 hp gas-powered two wheel vehicle with no pedals (even with pedals in some states) on public streets.
I see their appeal , they’re fast. They are quiet, if riders used a bell or horn that would be a good thing . There are a lot of beach cruiser bikes here too, pedal powered.
Not all e-bikers are jackwagons but it only takes a few.
The bike path at the ocean front isn’t as well lit as the boardwalk either , in the shadow of the hotels . The path follows the contours of the ground so it has dips and such .
It would be ideal to have a upgraded bike path , probably won’t happen .
As far as riding a bike in Virginia Beach proper, you take your life into your hands.
Yet, there are millions for another bike path
The bike path they are getting is a multi million dollar one that will run from Norfolk to Virginia Beach, along the path of the twice proposed and twice defeated at the polls light rail from Norfolk to the Ocean Front .
But don’t despair light rail fans , the bike path won’t take up too much room, they could still squeeze in a light rail just in case . 😉
Several “phases” to this 12 mile project . One phase is $14.9 million for 3.2 miles of bike path but it will include a ADA compliant pedestrian/bike bridge to span a busy intersection. Another phase is $23.8 million for a 2.8 mile stretch.
Tax dollars at waste I mean work.
I’m 82....remember this well...
Agree that the parents should be prosecuted instead of the child. Child endangerment, perhaps?
These have become a big problem in our area, as well. The children do not generally have driver’s training, nor insurance, and many don’t wear helmets. But they drive in (and out of) traffic as if they are immune to danger. There have been several very serious accidents in our area, including a couple deaths. It is challenging for the communities to get laws updated to account for the problems.
there are gangs of kids riding these low fat wheel scooters all over my city, I almost hit some backing out of my driveway, the other day it was dark, they were wearing all black with no lights. The cops do nothing
I'm not sure why some folks don't grasp the concept about an action that is ILLEGAL.
Age is not a factor. I can't ride a motorcycle on the road unless I have a driver license with motorcycle endorsement.
The motorcycle needs to be road-legal, meaning head and brake lights, turn signals, registration and insurance.
Some folks, such as Matt Van Swol, seem to think that an 11 y-o is exempt from these requirements by benefit of their age.
Should we allow an 11 y-o to steal and kill just because they're a child?
We have a real problem with kids riding gas dirt bikes, e-motorcycles and e-bikes on the street and along the walking path/horse trails near my house. Some do wheelies and curse at the pedestrians to get out of the way.
Matt Van Swol, here's the flip side to the coin.
OC mom ‘anguished’ after 14-year-old son on e-motorcycle allegedly killed veteran:
An Aliso Viejo mother facing felony charges after her son allegedly fatally injured an 81-year-old Vietnam veteran while illegally riding an e-motorcycle in Lake Forest made her first appearance in criminal court on Tuesday, May 12.
Tommi Jo Mejer, 50, during a brief hearing at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach, did not enter a plea to the involuntary manslaughter, child abuse and endangerment and accessory felonies she has been charged with, instead agreeing to continue her arraignment until June 30.
Mejer’s attorneys, Paul S. Meyer and Lolita Kirk, said in a statement handed out to media members after the hearing that it was premature to speak in detail about the allegations the mother is facing.
“Tommi Mejer is anguished over the terrible accident,” the defense attorneys said in the statement. “She sends her deepest condolences and sorrow over this tragedy. This has been tragic for everyone.” (Ed: this wasn't an 'accident'. The kid was riding illegally on the street and recklessly doing wheelies)
Several family members of Ed Ashman, the pedestrian who suffered what turned out to be fatal injuries when prosecutors allege that Mejer’s son crashed into him while doing wheelies on an e-motorycle, watched the hearing from the courtroom gallery, but declined to speak afterward.
Prosecutors allege that Mejer’s son crashed into Ashman while riding in the roadway at Toledo Way and Ridge Route Drive on April 16. Ashman was walking home from El Toro High School, where he worked as a substitute teacher. The 14-year-old allegedly fled the scene of the crash, according to law enforcement, but was identified by witnesses and later taken into custody.
Mejer had previously been warned about the dangers of her son riding the e-motorcycle, prosecutors said, and allegedly lied to law enforcement after the crash, reportedly claiming her family did not own an e-motorcycle or have access to one. District Attorney Todd Spitzer previously said that Mejer had “essentially handed her 14-year-old son a deadly weapon,” adding that “despite multiple warnings of the dangers, (Mejer) continued to let him (her son) illegally ride an e-motorcycle until he finally killed someone.”
The e-motorcycle Mejer’s son was allegedly riding — a 2025 Surron Ultra Bee — requires a motorcycle license, insurance, license plate and registration in order to be used on a public street, according to prosecutors. Otherwise, the e-motorcycle, which can reach speeds of up to 58 mph and go from 0 to 31 mph in 2.3 seconds, can only be used on private property or off-highway vehicle areas.
Mejer remains out of custody as she awaits trial. If convicted as charged, she faces up to seven years and eight months in state prison.
It isn’t clear if Mejer’s son is facing criminal charges. Local prosecutors say that due to his age, state law prevents them from discussing whether they are pursuing charges against the teen.
The Orange County district attorney’s office has filed charges against three parents since January for allowing their children to illegally ride e-motorcycles, which are more powerful than e-bikes.
Richard Eyssallenne, a Yorba Linda father, has pleaded not guilty to felony child abuse and endangerment charges after his 12-year-old son was seriously injured when he allegedly ran a red light and was hit by a car while riding an e-motorcycle that had been illegally modified to go up to 50 miles per hours.
Another father, a Westminster resident, is facing lesser misdemeanor child abuse and delinquency charges after his sons were allegedly warned about illegally riding e-motorcycles. No injuries were reported in connection with his case.
RIF. It's not the cop who's confused about the law. It's you.
A 'bicycle' has pedals. A 'moped' has pedals. An 'e-bicycle' has pedals.
The kid was riding an 'e-motorcycle' that did not have pedals. It also didn't have lights, registration, insurance.
Nor, did the 11 y-o have a driver license with a motorcycle endorsement.
The kid worked his butt off, saved the money, and bought it himself.
Technically, the cop in this case is a moron. First, you don’t have charge the kid. Second, you certainly could let dad take the bike home. Third, you could have simply warned the kid. This whole situation is simply stupid.
And, he got a valuable lesson that illegal actions have consequences. He FAFO.
We're having a real problem with kids in our area riding recklessly on e-bikes, e-motorcycles and gas-powered dirt bikes. Any time I see it, I call the Sheriff Dept. to report it.
It sounds like Oviedo is having the same problem, so the police are cracking down and making an example of the 11 y-o.
Like many in my community, your solution is simply say, "Aw, shucks. It's just kids being kids."
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."
I think there is a belief by some people that because it’s electric, and not gasoline-engine powered, it’s harmless. And I agree with several people who have mentioned that here in Florida, they have become a nuisance and safety issue.
-PJ
They're a real problem here, too. Probably pretty much nationwide.
We have several walking paths/horse trails in my area that my wife and daughter use almost daily. They are constantly having to get off the path so the reckless riders don't hit them.
One day, they were recording the kids and one roared by cursing at them for being in the way.
I talked to a Sheriff Lieutenant one day about the problem. I'd been calling in illegal riders almost every day. He stopped by to get some insight. He explained that when the Deputies attempt to stop the illegal riders, they roar off down a dirt patch where the patrol vehicles can't follow.
Like the Lieutenant in the article I posted said, they tried educating the parents and the riders.
It didn't do any good, so now they enforcing the law.
The only way to get the law-breaker's attention is to hit them in the pocketbook by issuing citations that carry fines and impounding the offender's vehicles.
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