Carlsbad police outline enforcement of new e-bike rules, report 40 impounds since late May

Police Chief Christy Calderwood told the Carlsbad Police Advisory Commission the city's new municipal ordinances for electric bicycles took effect in late March and full enforcement started May 26. "The ordinances did become effective on March 26 and then commenced a 60 education period," Calderwood said, adding officers spent weeks conducting outreach, giving verbal warnings and posting guidance on social media.

Calderwood described the rules and enforcement tools: e-bikes are prohibited in two city parks (Poinsettia and Pine), operators have a duty to operate with due care, and officers have authority to remove, seize and release impounded electric bicycles and e-motorcycles. She said the city launched a QR code to let residents report e-bike and e-motorcycle violations and to gather location trends for targeted enforcement.

On enforcement activity, Calderwood reported that between May 25 and July 6 the department logged 27 e-bike impounds and 13 e-motorcycle impounds for a total of 40 impounds; the department issued 20 citations, 53 written warnings, 93 education contacts and made nine parent contacts. "All of this is on body cam," Calderwood said, noting parents are required to come to the station to recover impounded bikes.

Commissioners pressed on juvenile enforcement and cross-jurisdiction issues. When asked whether citations are issued to parents or juveniles, Calderwood said "the citations are issued to the kids," but noted the department can refer cases to the district attorney's office "for child endangerment where the parents would be held accountable." She said municipal-code enforcement has been limited by how juvenile cases are handled in court and the department is increasingly relying on vehicle-code provisions when appropriate.

Commissioners also asked where violations are concentrated; Calderwood said enforcement is focused in the north end (the village), Pine Park and La Costa Town Center and that surveillance trailers and saturation patrols have been used as deterrents. On nonresident riders she said the department treats them "alike" to residents and will contact parents and require them to come to the scene or station.

The chief said the city has seen similar municipal responses across coastal communities in San Diego County and neighboring cities are adopting comparable rules. The commission did not take formal action on the update; staff and the chief said they will continue outreach and report back as enforcement patterns emerge.

The advisory commission moved next to additional department reports.