New York Moves to Ban Sales of Fast E-Motos
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New York lawmakers are cracking down on fast electric two-wheelers sold as ordinary e-bikes. Under Senate Bill S.10700, retailers and online sellers would be barred from selling or delivering uncertified high-speed e-motos to New York buyers.
Senator Kristen Gonzalez and Assemblymember Diana Moreno sponsored the legislation, which was referred to the Senate Rules Committee. The measure follows a fatal head-on crash on the Queensboro Bridge bike path. The bill defines an e-moto as any motorized two-wheeler capable of going over 20 mph that does not meet current state Vehicle and Traffic Law standards for an e-bike, e-scooter, or DMV-registered motorcycle. Some of these machines can exceed 50 mph while being marketed as basic bicycles. Retailers violating the ban face civil fines of up to $1,000 per violation.
For motorcyclists, the legal gray area around fast electric two-wheelers has fueled roadway crackdowns and friction on shared pavement. This bill sets a clear statutory boundary between legitimate electric motorcycles and unclassified machines running without plates or rider licenses. Under the proposal, electric off-highway motorcycles could only be sold through brick-and-mortar ATV and motorcycle dealerships registered with the New York State DMV.
The bill remains under review in the Senate Rules Committee.
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Photo: Office of the New York State Attorney General.
