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St. Petersburg, FL - St. Petersburg police issued 24 citations Thursday night during an enforcement operation targeting a large group of e-bike and scooter riders near downtown.
Officers said the effort followed three recent fatal crashes involving e-bike riders within two weeks, prompting the department to increase patrols and enforce traffic laws more strictly.
The group of more than 50 riders included adults and children using e-bikes, one-wheels, and scooters.
Riders said they had previously met with police and believed they were following the rules.
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Participant Michael Buhl, who received a citation, acknowledged that some riders fail to stop at lights but said most try to follow the law. Another rider, Allan Miller, said he was surprised by the scale of the stop.
Police stated they have received multiple complaints about the group riding against traffic, blocking intersections, and ignoring signals.
The citations issued Thursday included violations related to unregistered motorized devices and unsafe operation.
Florida law defines e-bikes as bicycles if they have motors under 750 watts and do not exceed 28 miles per hour.
Devices exceeding those limits are classified as motor vehicles requiring registration and a driver’s license. A St. Petersburg ordinance also prohibits one-wheeled boards, hoverboards, and similar devices from operating on city streets.
An SPPD spokesperson said the enforcement was conducted to protect both riders and the public.
The group’s organizers said they plan to review safety practices for future rides.