After filing criminal charges against several Orange County parents whose children were involved in serious or fatal e-motorcycle crashes, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday the creation of a new e-bike and e-motorcycle unit to review potential criminal charges against juveniles and adults.
The unit, called RIDE SAFELY — Smart Accountability for E-Bikes and E-Motos and Law Enforcement for Youth — will operate within the Family Protection Division and include prosecutors from the Family Protection and Juvenile Justice units.
District Attorney Todd Spitzer said the office has not only seen a growing number of e-bike and e-motorcycle cases, but has also encouraged police departments to thoroughly investigate crashes involving the vehicles.
Spitzer said he wanted a dedicated group of prosecutors handling the cases to avoid inconsistent charging decisions and sentencing recommendations.
“I don’t want a situation where one prosecutor looks at these cases more leniently or more harshly,” Spitzer said.
The creation of the unit follows several high-profile Orange County prosecutions involving juveniles riding e-motorcycles, including the filing of involuntary manslaughter charges against Tommi Jo Mejer, an Aliso Viejo mother accused of allowing her 14-year-old son to illegally ride an e-motorcycle before he allegedly struck and killed 81-year-old Vietnam veteran Ed Ashman in Lake Forest.
The district attorney’s office also has filed felony child endangerment charges against a Yorba Linda father whose 12-year-old son was critically injured after crashing a modified e-motorcycle allegedly capable of speeds up to 60 mph. Another Westminster father faces misdemeanor child abuse and delinquency charges after prosecutors allege he allowed his sons to illegally ride e-motorcycles despite warnings from law enforcement.
Spitzer said the cases present unusual challenges because prosecutors are often dealing with several members of the same family.
“These are prosecutors who need to be sensitive to looking at the whole situation and the family dynamic,” he said. “We have to achieve justice in these cases, but we have to be sensitive that we’re not further damaging the family structure.”
The office said the new unit will work directly with law enforcement agencies during investigations and help ensure consistency in charging decisions and sentencing recommendations.
The announcement comes amid growing scrutiny over e-bikes and e-motorcycles across Southern California following several serious and fatal crashes involving young riders.
Last week, a 13-year-old boy riding an off-highway e-motorcycle at an estimated 35 mph died in Garden Grove after crashing into a center median and being thrown from the vehicle, authorities said.
Spitzer said he called the Garden Grove police chief following the crash and asked investigators to thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding the collision, including potential culpability involving family members. It remains unclear whether criminal charges will be filed.
Earlier this month, Amazon announced it would stop selling certain high-speed e-bikes in California following a consumer alert issued by California Attorney General Rob Bonta warning that some vehicles marketed as e-bikes may legally qualify as motorcycles or mopeds under state law.
According to the district attorney’s office, children ages 11 to 14 accounted for nearly 62% of e-motorcycle crashes statewide despite California law prohibiting riders under 16 from operating e-motorcycles.