Amended IN Assembly March 18, 2025 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 965Introduced by Assembly Member DixonFebruary 20, 2025An act to amend Section 21212 add and repeal Section 21214.9 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 965, as amended, Dixon. Vehicles: bicycle helmets. electric bicycles.Existing law defines an electric bicycle and classifies electric bicycles into 3 classes with different restrictions. Under existing law, a class 1 electric bicycle is a bicycle equipped with a motor that, among other things, provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour. Under existing law, a class 2 electric bicycle is a bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour. Under existing law, a class 3 electric bicycle is a bicycle equipped with a speedometer and a motor that, in pertinent part, provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour. Existing law prohibits a person under 16 years of age from operating a class 3 electric bicycle.This bill, the Orange County Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program, would, until January 1, 2030, authorize a local authority within the County of Orange, or the County of Orange in unincorporated areas, to adopt an ordinance or resolution that would prohibit a person under 12 years of age from operating a class 1 or 2 electric bicycle or require a person who does not have a valid drivers license and who is operating an electric bicycle to complete a safety training course, as specified. For the first 60 days following the adoption of an ordinance or resolution for the specified purposes, the bill would make a violation of the ordinance or resolution punishable by a warning notice. After 60 days, the bill would make a violation of the ordinance or resolution an infraction punishable by a fine of $25, except as specified. This bill would make a parent or legal guardian with control or custody of an unemancipated minor who violates an ordinance or resolution adopted for those purposes jointly and severally liable with the minor for the amount of the fine imposed. The bill would, if an ordinance or resolution is adopted, require the county to, by January 1, 2029, submit a report to the Legislature that includes, among other things, the total number of warnings or citations issued, property seized, and arrests made. The bill would require a local authority or county to administer a public information campaign for at least 30 calendar days prior to the enactment of the ordinance or resolution, as specified.Existing law requires a minor to wear a helmet when engaged in physical activities, such as riding a bicycle, nonmotorized scooter, or skateboard, or wearing in-line or roller skates. Existing law requires that the helmet be properly fitted and fastened that meets the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials or the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. Existing law makes a violation of these provisions an infraction punishable by a fine of not more than $25, except as specified.This bill would increase the above-described fine to not more than $50.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YESNO Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 21214.9 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:21214.9. (a) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Orange County Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program.(b) A local authority within the County of Orange, or the County of Orange in unincorporated areas, may, by ordinance or resolution, do the following:(1) Prohibit a person under 12 years of age from operating a class 1 or 2 electric bicycle.(2) Require a person who does not possess a valid drivers license and is operating an electric bicycle to complete an electric bicycle safety training course certified by the League of American Bicyclists, or an equivalent organization, or the applicable safety and training program developed pursuant to Section 894 of the Streets and Highways Code.(c) (1) A violation of an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section shall be punishable as follows:(A) For the first 60 days after the prohibition comes into effect, a warning notice.(B) After the first 60 days, a violation of the ordinance or resolution shall be an infraction punishable by a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).(2) A record of the action shall not be transmitted to the court and a fee shall not be imposed upon a citation for this infraction if the parent or legal guardian of the person who violated an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to subdivision (b) delivers proof to the issuing agency within 120 days after the citation was issued that the person has completed an electric bicycle safety and training program pursuant to Section 894 of the Streets and Highways Code.(3) If an unemancipated minor violates an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section, a parent or legal guardian with control or custody of the minor shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor for the amount of a fine imposed pursuant to this subdivision.(d) (1) If an ordinance or resolution is adopted pursuant to this section, the county shall, by January 1, 2029, submit a report to the Legislature that includes all of the following:(A) The total number of warnings or citations issued, property seized, and arrests made.(B) The number of times a person opted to complete, and did complete, the training course in lieu of paying the fine.(C) The number of times that a person under 12 years of age was operating an electric bicycle and was involved in a crash that resulted in a permanent, serious injury, as defined in Section 20001, or a fatality in the six months prior to the adoption of the ordinance or resolution, the cause of the crash, and the class of the electric bicycle that was being operated at the time of the crash.(D) The number of times that a person under 12 years of age was operating an electric bicycle and was involved in a crash that resulted in a permanent, serious injury, as defined in Section 20001, or a fatality after the adoption of the ordinance or resolution, the cause of the crash, and the class of the electric bicycle that was being operated at the time of the crash.(2) A report submitted pursuant to this section shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.(e) A local authority shall administer a public information campaign for at least 30 calendar days prior to the enactment of an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section, which shall include public announcements in major media outlets and press releases.(f) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.SECTION 1.Section 21212 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:21212.(a)A person under 18 years of age shall not operate a bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, or a skateboard, nor wear in-line or roller skates, nor ride upon a bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, or a skateboard as a passenger, upon a street, bikeway, as defined in Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, or any other public bicycle path or trail unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards of either the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), or standards subsequently established by those entities. This requirement also applies to a person who rides upon a bicycle while in a restraining seat that is attached to the bicycle or in a trailer towed by the bicycle.(b)A helmet sold or offered for sale for use by operators and passengers of bicycles, nonmotorized scooters, skateboards, or in-line or roller skates shall be conspicuously labeled in accordance with the standard described in subdivision (a), which shall constitute the manufacturers certification that the helmet conforms to the applicable safety standards.(c)A person shall not sell, or offer for sale, for use by an operator or passenger of a bicycle, nonmotorized scooter, skateboard, or in-line or roller skates any safety helmet that is not of a type meeting requirements established by this section.(d)A charge under this section shall be dismissed when the person charged alleges in court, under oath, that the charge against the person is the first charge against that person under this section, unless it is otherwise established in court that the charge is not the first charge against the person.(e)(1)Except as provided in subdivision (d), a violation of this section is an infraction punishable by a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50).(2)The parent or legal guardian having control or custody of an unemancipated minor whose conduct violates this section shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor for the amount of the fine imposed pursuant to this subdivision.(f)A record of the action shall not be transmitted to the court and a fee shall not be imposed pursuant to Section 40611 upon a citation for not wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet pursuant to subdivision (a) if the parent or legal guardian of the person described in subdivision (a) delivers proof to the issuing agency within 120 days after the citation was issued that the person has a helmet meeting the requirements specified in subdivision (a) and the person has completed a local bicycle safety course or a related safety course, if one is available, as prescribed by authorities in the local jurisdiction.(g)Notwithstanding Section 1463 of the Penal Code or any other law, the fines collected for a violation of this section shall be allocated as follows:(1)Seventy-two and one-half percent of the amount collected shall be deposited in a special account of the county health department, to be used for bicycle, nonmotorized scooter, skateboard, and in-line and roller skate safety education and for assisting low-income families in obtaining approved bicycle helmets for persons under 18 years of age, either on a loan or purchase basis. The county may contract for the implementation of this program, which, to the extent practicable, shall be operated in conjunction with the child passenger restraint program pursuant to Section 27360.(2)Two and one-half percent of the amount collected shall be deposited in the county treasury to be used by the county to administer the program described in paragraph (1).(3)If the violation occurred within a city, 25 percent of the amount collected shall be transferred to, and deposited in, the treasury of that city. If the violation occurred in an unincorporated area, this 25 percent shall be deposited and used pursuant to paragraph (1).
Amended IN Assembly March 18, 2025 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 965Introduced by Assembly Member DixonFebruary 20, 2025An act to amend Section 21212 add and repeal Section 21214.9 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 965, as amended, Dixon. Vehicles: bicycle helmets. electric bicycles.Existing law defines an electric bicycle and classifies electric bicycles into 3 classes with different restrictions. Under existing law, a class 1 electric bicycle is a bicycle equipped with a motor that, among other things, provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour. Under existing law, a class 2 electric bicycle is a bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour. Under existing law, a class 3 electric bicycle is a bicycle equipped with a speedometer and a motor that, in pertinent part, provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour. Existing law prohibits a person under 16 years of age from operating a class 3 electric bicycle.This bill, the Orange County Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program, would, until January 1, 2030, authorize a local authority within the County of Orange, or the County of Orange in unincorporated areas, to adopt an ordinance or resolution that would prohibit a person under 12 years of age from operating a class 1 or 2 electric bicycle or require a person who does not have a valid drivers license and who is operating an electric bicycle to complete a safety training course, as specified. For the first 60 days following the adoption of an ordinance or resolution for the specified purposes, the bill would make a violation of the ordinance or resolution punishable by a warning notice. After 60 days, the bill would make a violation of the ordinance or resolution an infraction punishable by a fine of $25, except as specified. This bill would make a parent or legal guardian with control or custody of an unemancipated minor who violates an ordinance or resolution adopted for those purposes jointly and severally liable with the minor for the amount of the fine imposed. The bill would, if an ordinance or resolution is adopted, require the county to, by January 1, 2029, submit a report to the Legislature that includes, among other things, the total number of warnings or citations issued, property seized, and arrests made. The bill would require a local authority or county to administer a public information campaign for at least 30 calendar days prior to the enactment of the ordinance or resolution, as specified.Existing law requires a minor to wear a helmet when engaged in physical activities, such as riding a bicycle, nonmotorized scooter, or skateboard, or wearing in-line or roller skates. Existing law requires that the helmet be properly fitted and fastened that meets the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials or the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. Existing law makes a violation of these provisions an infraction punishable by a fine of not more than $25, except as specified.This bill would increase the above-described fine to not more than $50.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YESNO Local Program: NO
Amended IN Assembly March 18, 2025
Amended IN Assembly March 18, 2025
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 965
Introduced by Assembly Member DixonFebruary 20, 2025
Introduced by Assembly Member Dixon
February 20, 2025
An act to amend Section 21212 add and repeal Section 21214.9 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 965, as amended, Dixon. Vehicles: bicycle helmets. electric bicycles.
Existing law defines an electric bicycle and classifies electric bicycles into 3 classes with different restrictions. Under existing law, a class 1 electric bicycle is a bicycle equipped with a motor that, among other things, provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour. Under existing law, a class 2 electric bicycle is a bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour. Under existing law, a class 3 electric bicycle is a bicycle equipped with a speedometer and a motor that, in pertinent part, provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour. Existing law prohibits a person under 16 years of age from operating a class 3 electric bicycle.This bill, the Orange County Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program, would, until January 1, 2030, authorize a local authority within the County of Orange, or the County of Orange in unincorporated areas, to adopt an ordinance or resolution that would prohibit a person under 12 years of age from operating a class 1 or 2 electric bicycle or require a person who does not have a valid drivers license and who is operating an electric bicycle to complete a safety training course, as specified. For the first 60 days following the adoption of an ordinance or resolution for the specified purposes, the bill would make a violation of the ordinance or resolution punishable by a warning notice. After 60 days, the bill would make a violation of the ordinance or resolution an infraction punishable by a fine of $25, except as specified. This bill would make a parent or legal guardian with control or custody of an unemancipated minor who violates an ordinance or resolution adopted for those purposes jointly and severally liable with the minor for the amount of the fine imposed. The bill would, if an ordinance or resolution is adopted, require the county to, by January 1, 2029, submit a report to the Legislature that includes, among other things, the total number of warnings or citations issued, property seized, and arrests made. The bill would require a local authority or county to administer a public information campaign for at least 30 calendar days prior to the enactment of the ordinance or resolution, as specified.Existing law requires a minor to wear a helmet when engaged in physical activities, such as riding a bicycle, nonmotorized scooter, or skateboard, or wearing in-line or roller skates. Existing law requires that the helmet be properly fitted and fastened that meets the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials or the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. Existing law makes a violation of these provisions an infraction punishable by a fine of not more than $25, except as specified.This bill would increase the above-described fine to not more than $50.
Existing law defines an electric bicycle and classifies electric bicycles into 3 classes with different restrictions. Under existing law, a class 1 electric bicycle is a bicycle equipped with a motor that, among other things, provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour. Under existing law, a class 2 electric bicycle is a bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour. Under existing law, a class 3 electric bicycle is a bicycle equipped with a speedometer and a motor that, in pertinent part, provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour. Existing law prohibits a person under 16 years of age from operating a class 3 electric bicycle.
This bill, the Orange County Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program, would, until January 1, 2030, authorize a local authority within the County of Orange, or the County of Orange in unincorporated areas, to adopt an ordinance or resolution that would prohibit a person under 12 years of age from operating a class 1 or 2 electric bicycle or require a person who does not have a valid drivers license and who is operating an electric bicycle to complete a safety training course, as specified. For the first 60 days following the adoption of an ordinance or resolution for the specified purposes, the bill would make a violation of the ordinance or resolution punishable by a warning notice. After 60 days, the bill would make a violation of the ordinance or resolution an infraction punishable by a fine of $25, except as specified. This bill would make a parent or legal guardian with control or custody of an unemancipated minor who violates an ordinance or resolution adopted for those purposes jointly and severally liable with the minor for the amount of the fine imposed. The bill would, if an ordinance or resolution is adopted, require the county to, by January 1, 2029, submit a report to the Legislature that includes, among other things, the total number of warnings or citations issued, property seized, and arrests made. The bill would require a local authority or county to administer a public information campaign for at least 30 calendar days prior to the enactment of the ordinance or resolution, as specified.
Existing law requires a minor to wear a helmet when engaged in physical activities, such as riding a bicycle, nonmotorized scooter, or skateboard, or wearing in-line or roller skates. Existing law requires that the helmet be properly fitted and fastened that meets the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials or the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. Existing law makes a violation of these provisions an infraction punishable by a fine of not more than $25, except as specified.
This bill would increase the above-described fine to not more than $50.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 21214.9 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:21214.9. (a) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Orange County Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program.(b) A local authority within the County of Orange, or the County of Orange in unincorporated areas, may, by ordinance or resolution, do the following:(1) Prohibit a person under 12 years of age from operating a class 1 or 2 electric bicycle.(2) Require a person who does not possess a valid drivers license and is operating an electric bicycle to complete an electric bicycle safety training course certified by the League of American Bicyclists, or an equivalent organization, or the applicable safety and training program developed pursuant to Section 894 of the Streets and Highways Code.(c) (1) A violation of an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section shall be punishable as follows:(A) For the first 60 days after the prohibition comes into effect, a warning notice.(B) After the first 60 days, a violation of the ordinance or resolution shall be an infraction punishable by a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).(2) A record of the action shall not be transmitted to the court and a fee shall not be imposed upon a citation for this infraction if the parent or legal guardian of the person who violated an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to subdivision (b) delivers proof to the issuing agency within 120 days after the citation was issued that the person has completed an electric bicycle safety and training program pursuant to Section 894 of the Streets and Highways Code.(3) If an unemancipated minor violates an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section, a parent or legal guardian with control or custody of the minor shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor for the amount of a fine imposed pursuant to this subdivision.(d) (1) If an ordinance or resolution is adopted pursuant to this section, the county shall, by January 1, 2029, submit a report to the Legislature that includes all of the following:(A) The total number of warnings or citations issued, property seized, and arrests made.(B) The number of times a person opted to complete, and did complete, the training course in lieu of paying the fine.(C) The number of times that a person under 12 years of age was operating an electric bicycle and was involved in a crash that resulted in a permanent, serious injury, as defined in Section 20001, or a fatality in the six months prior to the adoption of the ordinance or resolution, the cause of the crash, and the class of the electric bicycle that was being operated at the time of the crash.(D) The number of times that a person under 12 years of age was operating an electric bicycle and was involved in a crash that resulted in a permanent, serious injury, as defined in Section 20001, or a fatality after the adoption of the ordinance or resolution, the cause of the crash, and the class of the electric bicycle that was being operated at the time of the crash.(2) A report submitted pursuant to this section shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.(e) A local authority shall administer a public information campaign for at least 30 calendar days prior to the enactment of an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section, which shall include public announcements in major media outlets and press releases.(f) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.SECTION 1.Section 21212 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:21212.(a)A person under 18 years of age shall not operate a bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, or a skateboard, nor wear in-line or roller skates, nor ride upon a bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, or a skateboard as a passenger, upon a street, bikeway, as defined in Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, or any other public bicycle path or trail unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards of either the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), or standards subsequently established by those entities. This requirement also applies to a person who rides upon a bicycle while in a restraining seat that is attached to the bicycle or in a trailer towed by the bicycle.(b)A helmet sold or offered for sale for use by operators and passengers of bicycles, nonmotorized scooters, skateboards, or in-line or roller skates shall be conspicuously labeled in accordance with the standard described in subdivision (a), which shall constitute the manufacturers certification that the helmet conforms to the applicable safety standards.(c)A person shall not sell, or offer for sale, for use by an operator or passenger of a bicycle, nonmotorized scooter, skateboard, or in-line or roller skates any safety helmet that is not of a type meeting requirements established by this section.(d)A charge under this section shall be dismissed when the person charged alleges in court, under oath, that the charge against the person is the first charge against that person under this section, unless it is otherwise established in court that the charge is not the first charge against the person.(e)(1)Except as provided in subdivision (d), a violation of this section is an infraction punishable by a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50).(2)The parent or legal guardian having control or custody of an unemancipated minor whose conduct violates this section shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor for the amount of the fine imposed pursuant to this subdivision.(f)A record of the action shall not be transmitted to the court and a fee shall not be imposed pursuant to Section 40611 upon a citation for not wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet pursuant to subdivision (a) if the parent or legal guardian of the person described in subdivision (a) delivers proof to the issuing agency within 120 days after the citation was issued that the person has a helmet meeting the requirements specified in subdivision (a) and the person has completed a local bicycle safety course or a related safety course, if one is available, as prescribed by authorities in the local jurisdiction.(g)Notwithstanding Section 1463 of the Penal Code or any other law, the fines collected for a violation of this section shall be allocated as follows:(1)Seventy-two and one-half percent of the amount collected shall be deposited in a special account of the county health department, to be used for bicycle, nonmotorized scooter, skateboard, and in-line and roller skate safety education and for assisting low-income families in obtaining approved bicycle helmets for persons under 18 years of age, either on a loan or purchase basis. The county may contract for the implementation of this program, which, to the extent practicable, shall be operated in conjunction with the child passenger restraint program pursuant to Section 27360.(2)Two and one-half percent of the amount collected shall be deposited in the county treasury to be used by the county to administer the program described in paragraph (1).(3)If the violation occurred within a city, 25 percent of the amount collected shall be transferred to, and deposited in, the treasury of that city. If the violation occurred in an unincorporated area, this 25 percent shall be deposited and used pursuant to paragraph (1).
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 21214.9 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:21214.9. (a) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Orange County Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program.(b) A local authority within the County of Orange, or the County of Orange in unincorporated areas, may, by ordinance or resolution, do the following:(1) Prohibit a person under 12 years of age from operating a class 1 or 2 electric bicycle.(2) Require a person who does not possess a valid drivers license and is operating an electric bicycle to complete an electric bicycle safety training course certified by the League of American Bicyclists, or an equivalent organization, or the applicable safety and training program developed pursuant to Section 894 of the Streets and Highways Code.(c) (1) A violation of an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section shall be punishable as follows:(A) For the first 60 days after the prohibition comes into effect, a warning notice.(B) After the first 60 days, a violation of the ordinance or resolution shall be an infraction punishable by a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).(2) A record of the action shall not be transmitted to the court and a fee shall not be imposed upon a citation for this infraction if the parent or legal guardian of the person who violated an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to subdivision (b) delivers proof to the issuing agency within 120 days after the citation was issued that the person has completed an electric bicycle safety and training program pursuant to Section 894 of the Streets and Highways Code.(3) If an unemancipated minor violates an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section, a parent or legal guardian with control or custody of the minor shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor for the amount of a fine imposed pursuant to this subdivision.(d) (1) If an ordinance or resolution is adopted pursuant to this section, the county shall, by January 1, 2029, submit a report to the Legislature that includes all of the following:(A) The total number of warnings or citations issued, property seized, and arrests made.(B) The number of times a person opted to complete, and did complete, the training course in lieu of paying the fine.(C) The number of times that a person under 12 years of age was operating an electric bicycle and was involved in a crash that resulted in a permanent, serious injury, as defined in Section 20001, or a fatality in the six months prior to the adoption of the ordinance or resolution, the cause of the crash, and the class of the electric bicycle that was being operated at the time of the crash.(D) The number of times that a person under 12 years of age was operating an electric bicycle and was involved in a crash that resulted in a permanent, serious injury, as defined in Section 20001, or a fatality after the adoption of the ordinance or resolution, the cause of the crash, and the class of the electric bicycle that was being operated at the time of the crash.(2) A report submitted pursuant to this section shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.(e) A local authority shall administer a public information campaign for at least 30 calendar days prior to the enactment of an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section, which shall include public announcements in major media outlets and press releases.(f) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.
SECTION 1. Section 21214.9 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
### SECTION 1.
21214.9. (a) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Orange County Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program.(b) A local authority within the County of Orange, or the County of Orange in unincorporated areas, may, by ordinance or resolution, do the following:(1) Prohibit a person under 12 years of age from operating a class 1 or 2 electric bicycle.(2) Require a person who does not possess a valid drivers license and is operating an electric bicycle to complete an electric bicycle safety training course certified by the League of American Bicyclists, or an equivalent organization, or the applicable safety and training program developed pursuant to Section 894 of the Streets and Highways Code.(c) (1) A violation of an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section shall be punishable as follows:(A) For the first 60 days after the prohibition comes into effect, a warning notice.(B) After the first 60 days, a violation of the ordinance or resolution shall be an infraction punishable by a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).(2) A record of the action shall not be transmitted to the court and a fee shall not be imposed upon a citation for this infraction if the parent or legal guardian of the person who violated an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to subdivision (b) delivers proof to the issuing agency within 120 days after the citation was issued that the person has completed an electric bicycle safety and training program pursuant to Section 894 of the Streets and Highways Code.(3) If an unemancipated minor violates an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section, a parent or legal guardian with control or custody of the minor shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor for the amount of a fine imposed pursuant to this subdivision.(d) (1) If an ordinance or resolution is adopted pursuant to this section, the county shall, by January 1, 2029, submit a report to the Legislature that includes all of the following:(A) The total number of warnings or citations issued, property seized, and arrests made.(B) The number of times a person opted to complete, and did complete, the training course in lieu of paying the fine.(C) The number of times that a person under 12 years of age was operating an electric bicycle and was involved in a crash that resulted in a permanent, serious injury, as defined in Section 20001, or a fatality in the six months prior to the adoption of the ordinance or resolution, the cause of the crash, and the class of the electric bicycle that was being operated at the time of the crash.(D) The number of times that a person under 12 years of age was operating an electric bicycle and was involved in a crash that resulted in a permanent, serious injury, as defined in Section 20001, or a fatality after the adoption of the ordinance or resolution, the cause of the crash, and the class of the electric bicycle that was being operated at the time of the crash.(2) A report submitted pursuant to this section shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.(e) A local authority shall administer a public information campaign for at least 30 calendar days prior to the enactment of an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section, which shall include public announcements in major media outlets and press releases.(f) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.
21214.9. (a) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Orange County Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program.(b) A local authority within the County of Orange, or the County of Orange in unincorporated areas, may, by ordinance or resolution, do the following:(1) Prohibit a person under 12 years of age from operating a class 1 or 2 electric bicycle.(2) Require a person who does not possess a valid drivers license and is operating an electric bicycle to complete an electric bicycle safety training course certified by the League of American Bicyclists, or an equivalent organization, or the applicable safety and training program developed pursuant to Section 894 of the Streets and Highways Code.(c) (1) A violation of an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section shall be punishable as follows:(A) For the first 60 days after the prohibition comes into effect, a warning notice.(B) After the first 60 days, a violation of the ordinance or resolution shall be an infraction punishable by a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).(2) A record of the action shall not be transmitted to the court and a fee shall not be imposed upon a citation for this infraction if the parent or legal guardian of the person who violated an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to subdivision (b) delivers proof to the issuing agency within 120 days after the citation was issued that the person has completed an electric bicycle safety and training program pursuant to Section 894 of the Streets and Highways Code.(3) If an unemancipated minor violates an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section, a parent or legal guardian with control or custody of the minor shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor for the amount of a fine imposed pursuant to this subdivision.(d) (1) If an ordinance or resolution is adopted pursuant to this section, the county shall, by January 1, 2029, submit a report to the Legislature that includes all of the following:(A) The total number of warnings or citations issued, property seized, and arrests made.(B) The number of times a person opted to complete, and did complete, the training course in lieu of paying the fine.(C) The number of times that a person under 12 years of age was operating an electric bicycle and was involved in a crash that resulted in a permanent, serious injury, as defined in Section 20001, or a fatality in the six months prior to the adoption of the ordinance or resolution, the cause of the crash, and the class of the electric bicycle that was being operated at the time of the crash.(D) The number of times that a person under 12 years of age was operating an electric bicycle and was involved in a crash that resulted in a permanent, serious injury, as defined in Section 20001, or a fatality after the adoption of the ordinance or resolution, the cause of the crash, and the class of the electric bicycle that was being operated at the time of the crash.(2) A report submitted pursuant to this section shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.(e) A local authority shall administer a public information campaign for at least 30 calendar days prior to the enactment of an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section, which shall include public announcements in major media outlets and press releases.(f) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.
21214.9. (a) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Orange County Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program.(b) A local authority within the County of Orange, or the County of Orange in unincorporated areas, may, by ordinance or resolution, do the following:(1) Prohibit a person under 12 years of age from operating a class 1 or 2 electric bicycle.(2) Require a person who does not possess a valid drivers license and is operating an electric bicycle to complete an electric bicycle safety training course certified by the League of American Bicyclists, or an equivalent organization, or the applicable safety and training program developed pursuant to Section 894 of the Streets and Highways Code.(c) (1) A violation of an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section shall be punishable as follows:(A) For the first 60 days after the prohibition comes into effect, a warning notice.(B) After the first 60 days, a violation of the ordinance or resolution shall be an infraction punishable by a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).(2) A record of the action shall not be transmitted to the court and a fee shall not be imposed upon a citation for this infraction if the parent or legal guardian of the person who violated an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to subdivision (b) delivers proof to the issuing agency within 120 days after the citation was issued that the person has completed an electric bicycle safety and training program pursuant to Section 894 of the Streets and Highways Code.(3) If an unemancipated minor violates an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section, a parent or legal guardian with control or custody of the minor shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor for the amount of a fine imposed pursuant to this subdivision.(d) (1) If an ordinance or resolution is adopted pursuant to this section, the county shall, by January 1, 2029, submit a report to the Legislature that includes all of the following:(A) The total number of warnings or citations issued, property seized, and arrests made.(B) The number of times a person opted to complete, and did complete, the training course in lieu of paying the fine.(C) The number of times that a person under 12 years of age was operating an electric bicycle and was involved in a crash that resulted in a permanent, serious injury, as defined in Section 20001, or a fatality in the six months prior to the adoption of the ordinance or resolution, the cause of the crash, and the class of the electric bicycle that was being operated at the time of the crash.(D) The number of times that a person under 12 years of age was operating an electric bicycle and was involved in a crash that resulted in a permanent, serious injury, as defined in Section 20001, or a fatality after the adoption of the ordinance or resolution, the cause of the crash, and the class of the electric bicycle that was being operated at the time of the crash.(2) A report submitted pursuant to this section shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.(e) A local authority shall administer a public information campaign for at least 30 calendar days prior to the enactment of an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section, which shall include public announcements in major media outlets and press releases.(f) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.
21214.9. (a) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Orange County Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program.
(b) A local authority within the County of Orange, or the County of Orange in unincorporated areas, may, by ordinance or resolution, do the following:
(1) Prohibit a person under 12 years of age from operating a class 1 or 2 electric bicycle.
(2) Require a person who does not possess a valid drivers license and is operating an electric bicycle to complete an electric bicycle safety training course certified by the League of American Bicyclists, or an equivalent organization, or the applicable safety and training program developed pursuant to Section 894 of the Streets and Highways Code.
(c) (1) A violation of an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section shall be punishable as follows:
(A) For the first 60 days after the prohibition comes into effect, a warning notice.
(B) After the first 60 days, a violation of the ordinance or resolution shall be an infraction punishable by a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).
(2) A record of the action shall not be transmitted to the court and a fee shall not be imposed upon a citation for this infraction if the parent or legal guardian of the person who violated an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to subdivision (b) delivers proof to the issuing agency within 120 days after the citation was issued that the person has completed an electric bicycle safety and training program pursuant to Section 894 of the Streets and Highways Code.
(3) If an unemancipated minor violates an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section, a parent or legal guardian with control or custody of the minor shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor for the amount of a fine imposed pursuant to this subdivision.
(d) (1) If an ordinance or resolution is adopted pursuant to this section, the county shall, by January 1, 2029, submit a report to the Legislature that includes all of the following:
(A) The total number of warnings or citations issued, property seized, and arrests made.
(B) The number of times a person opted to complete, and did complete, the training course in lieu of paying the fine.
(C) The number of times that a person under 12 years of age was operating an electric bicycle and was involved in a crash that resulted in a permanent, serious injury, as defined in Section 20001, or a fatality in the six months prior to the adoption of the ordinance or resolution, the cause of the crash, and the class of the electric bicycle that was being operated at the time of the crash.
(D) The number of times that a person under 12 years of age was operating an electric bicycle and was involved in a crash that resulted in a permanent, serious injury, as defined in Section 20001, or a fatality after the adoption of the ordinance or resolution, the cause of the crash, and the class of the electric bicycle that was being operated at the time of the crash.
(2) A report submitted pursuant to this section shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(e) A local authority shall administer a public information campaign for at least 30 calendar days prior to the enactment of an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section, which shall include public announcements in major media outlets and press releases.
(f) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.
(a)A person under 18 years of age shall not operate a bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, or a skateboard, nor wear in-line or roller skates, nor ride upon a bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, or a skateboard as a passenger, upon a street, bikeway, as defined in Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, or any other public bicycle path or trail unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards of either the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), or standards subsequently established by those entities. This requirement also applies to a person who rides upon a bicycle while in a restraining seat that is attached to the bicycle or in a trailer towed by the bicycle.
(b)A helmet sold or offered for sale for use by operators and passengers of bicycles, nonmotorized scooters, skateboards, or in-line or roller skates shall be conspicuously labeled in accordance with the standard described in subdivision (a), which shall constitute the manufacturers certification that the helmet conforms to the applicable safety standards.
(c)A person shall not sell, or offer for sale, for use by an operator or passenger of a bicycle, nonmotorized scooter, skateboard, or in-line or roller skates any safety helmet that is not of a type meeting requirements established by this section.
(d)A charge under this section shall be dismissed when the person charged alleges in court, under oath, that the charge against the person is the first charge against that person under this section, unless it is otherwise established in court that the charge is not the first charge against the person.
(e)(1)Except as provided in subdivision (d), a violation of this section is an infraction punishable by a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50).
(2)The parent or legal guardian having control or custody of an unemancipated minor whose conduct violates this section shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor for the amount of the fine imposed pursuant to this subdivision.
(f)A record of the action shall not be transmitted to the court and a fee shall not be imposed pursuant to Section 40611 upon a citation for not wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet pursuant to subdivision (a) if the parent or legal guardian of the person described in subdivision (a) delivers proof to the issuing agency within 120 days after the citation was issued that the person has a helmet meeting the requirements specified in subdivision (a) and the person has completed a local bicycle safety course or a related safety course, if one is available, as prescribed by authorities in the local jurisdiction.
(g)Notwithstanding Section 1463 of the Penal Code or any other law, the fines collected for a violation of this section shall be allocated as follows:
(1)Seventy-two and one-half percent of the amount collected shall be deposited in a special account of the county health department, to be used for bicycle, nonmotorized scooter, skateboard, and in-line and roller skate safety education and for assisting low-income families in obtaining approved bicycle helmets for persons under 18 years of age, either on a loan or purchase basis. The county may contract for the implementation of this program, which, to the extent practicable, shall be operated in conjunction with the child passenger restraint program pursuant to Section 27360.
(2)Two and one-half percent of the amount collected shall be deposited in the county treasury to be used by the county to administer the program described in paragraph (1).
(3)If the violation occurred within a city, 25 percent of the amount collected shall be transferred to, and deposited in, the treasury of that city. If the violation occurred in an unincorporated area, this 25 percent shall be deposited and used pursuant to paragraph (1).