Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you.
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.
|
|
Click here: to donate by Credit Card Or here: to donate by PayPal Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794 Thank you very much and God bless you. |
It only requires a license, registration and insurance to operate it on a public road.
None of these are required when operated off-road.
We have a little $hit in our neighborhood that rides his gas powered dirt bike up and down the streets. Next time I talk to his dad, I’m going to tell him to get his boy a bigger bike. 125cc dirt bikes are fun, but sound like hell when run in the wrong places.
how many baseball cards did you use?... ...that are probably worth a fortune in today’s market!! (weep...)
Who knew!!
Can’t even walk 300 ft to a pond to fish
Meh. I got a 90cc dirt bike when I was eleven, a little before my dad bought me my first rifle.
But we usually didn't ride in the streets, we pushed them to a big field nearby.
It looks like we had more sense than many kids seem to have today and certainly didn't careen down streets in packs to take over the roads. There's just about only 1 demographic that does that.
I read every reply on this thread and some of you guys, not you peir... ...some of you guys truly forget what being a kid is like. We are not talking busy streets... we’re talking neighborhood streets where the speed limits are 25 mph... kids zones... kids playing... etc. Christ we player hockey, soccer baseball right in the middle of our streets!! There were never any whiney ass Karen’s who called the cops... bikes, minibikes, motorcycles, what ever!! Now its a fkng crime because some adult is inconvenienced!?? Man thats some BS... No wonder kids are such pu**ies these days!!
I appreciate your point but the kid is 11 years old. And he never received a warning. Also, this sounds like face-saving on the part of the police department. They know they look foolish.
His adult father knowingly allowed him to ride illegally, and then when his son gets cited, fingerprinted and the E-motorcyle gets impounded, makes excuses why it's okay because he's only 11 years old.
What's your opinion on that?
The Oviedo PD has tried the education route. It didn't work. The only way to get some folks to change their ways is to hit them where it counts; in the pocket book.
I posted a link to a recent news story where a mother knowingly allowed her 14 y-o son to illegally ride an E-motorcycle despite being repeatably warned by LEOs that what he was doing was against the law. She ignored LEO warnings and allowed her son to continue riding.
One day, her son was doing wheelies on his E-motorcycle in front of the high school, showing off for his friends, and as a result of his actions, he hit and ultimately, killed an 81 y-o substitute teacher who was leaving work for the day and walking home.
Afterward, when the LEO came a-calling, she lied to them, claiming that the family did not own an E-motorcycle, nor did they have access to one.
She's been charged with involuntary manslaughter, child endangerment, accessory after the fact and others.
Naturally, she's 'anguished' that her and her son's lackadaisical attitude to obeying the laws has drawn such criticism. Never mind the death this caused.
Where do you draw the line at illegal activity?
So... we regulate the many for the actions of a few... and in the case of your link, we want to regulate the many for the actions of one... ...I think not.
Once upon a time this site frowned upon such thinking...
Big difference between a 14 y/o who was warned multiple times and whose parent was warned multiple times and who was driving recklessly and this 11 year old Arresting and printing an 11 y/o is insane.
Stretchy pant faggots on regular bikes constantly make rude comments about my e bike when I ride rails to trails.
They don’t realize that I ride one because my body is broke from doing things when I was young that would make them shit themselves if they had the balls to try.
My bike is a class two. Perfectly legal.
Big difference between a 14 y/o who was warned multiple times and whose parent was warned multiple times and who was driving recklessly and this 11 year old Arresting and printing an 11 y/o is insane.
You both probably missed the article in my post #56. This has become a big problem for Oviedo. The police tried public service announcements. They tried warning the kids and the parents. Nothing came of it. Now, they've moved onto enforcement, fines and impounds, which is what the subject of the OP was.
The father of the 11 y-o knowingly allowed his son to ride illegally. Instead of taking responsibility, he chose to whine like a little b***h about how his son was unfairly targeted. Why? Because now he's got to shell out hard cash for allowing his son to ride illegally.
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."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.