Hoboken Police are cracking down on an issue they say is making the streets unsafe for drivers and pedestrians.
The new initiative targets unregistered Class-3 electric bikes. Those can reach 28 miles per hour - faster than the city’s 20 mph speed limit.
“We are hearing more concerns from the public about this, we see that there is a safety issue,” said Lt. Keith Rotondi, of the Hoboken Police Department. “It's a great way to get around town, and it's something that we want to encourage, but encourage safely.”
Police say they’re hearing more often that the e-bikes are causing disruption in the city. Among the violations - riding on sidewalks. That’s not legal for any class of e-bike.
“They need to be in the street,” Rotondi said. “Follow the rules of Title 39 just like everybody else who’s operating a vehicle in the street. They have to stop for the stop signs, stop for the red lights."
Mopeds also must be registered in New Jersey. Police said they’ve impounded 14 mopeds, motorcycles and e-bikes over the last two weeks as of Saturday night, for everything from a lack of registration to illegal parking.
Violators will have their bikes impounded at their expense. They’ll also receive a summons and $100 fine.