Two Whittier kids under the age of 14 were involved in a collision with a vehicle, and police say one of them suffered what they are calling catastrophic injuries. In the aftermath, officers impounded two electric motorcycles and warned that they plan to keep cracking down on illegal e-moto use to protect local streets and neighborhoods.
What the Department Posted
In a post on the Whittier Police Department Facebook page on Wednesday, the department said the crash involved two children under 14 and that one child sustained “catastrophic injuries.” The post noted that officers impounded two electric motorcycles on March 10 and warned that many of these high-powered machines are being ridden without proper safety gear, licensing, or age-appropriate supervision.
The department urged parents to have frank conversations with their kids about what they are riding and where they are riding it, and emphasized that officers will keep enforcing existing laws in an effort to protect local neighborhoods.
State Law Now Treats Many E‑Motos as Off‑Highway Vehicles
State officials have also been trying to catch up with the rapid spread of fast electric two-wheelers. California clarified the legal status of many of these bikes with Senate Bill 586, which added a formal definition for “off-highway electric motorcycles” and took effect on Jan. 1, 2026, according to a California State Parks bulletin.
The bulletin explains that these vehicles do not meet the state’s definition of an electric bicycle and therefore are not legal on streets, sidewalks, or bike paths. It also spells out enforcement tools and new tow and impound authorities that agencies can use when riders take the machines onto public roads.
Trauma Centers Say Injuries Are Climbing
Hospitals have been seeing the consequences up close. Across California, trauma physicians and hospital data show a sharp rise in serious e-bike and e-moto injuries among minors, with many crashes resembling full-on motorcycle wrecks rather than simple bike falls, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
According to the Chronicle’s reporting, minors have experienced the fastest growth in e-bike injuries, and some trauma centers treated twice as many life-threatening e-bike cases in 2025 as they did the previous year.
Local Crackdowns Multiply
Whittier is not the only city stepping up enforcement after neighborhood complaints about high-speed riders and risky behavior. CBS Los Angeles reported that Hermosa Beach officers recently cited dozens of riders and impounded nine electric motorcycles during a single enforcement sweep, mirroring the actions Whittier police described.
What Enforcement Means for Parents
Under the new guidance and recent vehicle-code changes, officers can seize machines that are unregistered or being operated by unlicensed riders, and parents who knowingly allow their children to ride on public roads may face citations, according to the California State Parks bulletin and state code definitions.
The bulletin highlights specific tow and impound authorities, including new language in California Vehicle Code §22651.08, and the California Vehicle Code defines off-highway electric motorcycles in §436.1 as vehicles that cannot legally be converted for street use.
Whittier police closed their message by urging parents to confirm whether the vehicles their kids are riding are legal for street use, to insist on helmets every time, and to closely supervise younger riders. The department posted additional tips and resources on its Whittier Police Department Facebook page, where residents can read the full statement and check for updates.
