On Wednesday, District Attorney Todd Spitzer launched a new prosecution unit called RIDE SAFELY. The goal is to create accountability for kids and adults who ride e-bikes and e-motorcycles, but it also goes after those who break the law while riding one of the popular 2-wheelers.
The program will review all potential criminal charges, including for parents who let their children ride illegal e-motorcycles.
OC mom appears in court after being charged in e-motorcycle crash
Injuries attributed to e-bikes and e-motorcycles have spiked more than 400% in the last four years in Southern California, according the D.A.'s office.
The Orange County program was launched the same day Huntington Beach police hosted an e-bike symposium, hoping to come up with solutions to the growing challenges surrounding the popular vehicles.
"Todd Spitzer's office did a phenomenal job holding his parents accountable because when the parents are starting to be held accountable, who are really buying these devices for the kids that can't afford to buy them in the first place, really the (accountability) lies with the parents," said Sgt. Mikes Thomas.
Since January, the Orange County District Attorney's Office has filed charges against three parents for allowing their kids to ride illegal e-motorcycles.
That includes involuntary manslaughter charges against an Aliso Viejo mother after her 14-year-old son hit and killed an 81-year-old veteran while riding an e-motorcycle.
A Yorba Linda father was charged with child endangerment after his 12-year-old son was critically injured after running a red light and getting hit by a car while riding an e-motorcycle that prosecutors say had been modified to go up to 60 miles per hour.
Details about the third parent, and the charges they are facing, were not available.
Meanwhile, Amazon announced this week that it would stop selling certain e-bikes in California that go faster than the state speed limit.