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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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Motorcycle ping!..................
Florida Man (Boy) Ping!.................
They shouldn’t be just using peddle or no peddle as a measure, but also horsepower or what equivalence. It doesn’t sound like to me that he got something he could use on the highway.
Sheesh.
If this is a motorcycle, would those little battery-powered kiddie cars qualify as cars?
No opinion on whether this should be a motorcycle or not. Not enough details. But it seems like there should be some clarity in the law and in sales. Was it sold as a motorcycle? Or as a child’s toy?
This should have been made clear to whomever bought the bike.
This was the parents’ fault, albeit the cops’ handling of it was excessive. The proper response would have been to give the kid a ride home and impound his bike.
Cops are hired to be Barney Fife, not for their wisdom or intelligence.
I’d bet there’s more to the story. Perhaps the area near Orlando has had a series of 20 mph e-bikes slowing down roads and/or doing thefts and runs, etc. So they’re using the it’s-really-a-motorcycle argument to try to limit them.
“”selling squirrel tables.””
??????
Come on - make an allowance for his initiative - not tickets and court dates!
if its anything like the idiots we deal with around here- this kid could’ve (i stress could’ve) been a trouble maker on this thing and the cops were just waiting to bag him...
I would be surprised if this was a one off incident...
Id expect this insanity in a commie state but NOT Florida
Had to look up what "squirrel tables" are. Huh--you learn something every day.
What in the world is a squirrel table?
Cops don't make the laws, they only enforce them. It's the wording on the stupid law that needs to be changed.
Deputy Fife was only doing his job.
He’s getting a great civics lesson as he’s being home schooled thru life experience.
Back duh bloo!
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