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Police Warn Of Kids Illegally Operating Electric Bikes, Scooters, Cycles In Fairfield County

Police in one Fairfield County town are warning parents that more kids are driving electric bikes, scooters, and cycles illegally on roadways.

Who knew? It's against the law for kids to ride electric scooters on sidewalks in Connecticut.

Who knew? It's against the law for kids to ride electric scooters on sidewalks in Connecticut.

Photo Credit: Jan Antonin Kolar on Unsplash

What most don't realize, police say, is that you have to have a valid driver's license to operate the vehicles on roadways under state law, according to the Greenwich Police Department.

And sidewalks are roadways, police say.

The law defines motor-driven cycles as motor scooters, mopeds, or motorbikes with an engine size of fewer than 50 ccs, and a seat height of at least 26 inches, police said. 

Mini-motorcycles (pocket bikes) are not motor-driven cycles and cannot be registered in the state and continue to be prohibited from use on any roadway or sidewalk, police added.

The state does not classify electric bicycles as "motor-driven cycles."  

To be legally driven on a public road, electric bikes must have an electric motor with no more than 750W. Riders of electric bikes are afforded the same rights and privileges and are subject to the same duties as the rider of a bicycle.

Children under 16 are prohibited from electric bikes that travel at 28 mph on a public roadway. And they must wear helmets on all electric bikes.

In addition, E-Scooters can not be used on public sidewalks. E-Scooters must be used on the road or in a bicycle lane. Children under 16 must wear a helmet when riding an electric scooter.

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