Parents, Heads Up: Fines Are Coming for Your Kid's Reckless E-Bike Riding

What This Bill Actually Does

Over the last few years, Colorado has seen a massive surge in kids and teens zipping around on electrical assisted bicycles (e-bikes), electric scooters, and electric skateboards. The core problem? Local law enforcement agencies and city councils have complained that they don't have a meaningful way to enforce traffic laws, helmet rules, and age restrictions when the offender is a minor. You can't exactly write a standard, legally binding traffic ticket to a 13-year-old riding recklessly on a crowded multi-use trail.

House Bill 26-1125 flips the script by targeting the people who actually buy, maintain, and store these vehicles: the parents. Under this proposed law, a parent or guardian commits a civil infraction if they permit their minor child (under 18) to operate these vehicles illegally. This includes violating existing age minimums for certain e-bike classes, ignoring helmet requirements, riding in prohibited areas like specific sidewalks, or riding recklessly enough that a police officer believes it could cause "serious bodily injury" to the kid or someone else. Notably, the bill introduces a specific legal definition for electric motorcycles—meaning electric dirt bikes that have foot pegs and no pedals—bringing popular, fast off-road bikes directly under this same enforcement umbrella.

The penalty structure is strictly tiered to target repeat offenders. A first-time violation gives the officer discretion to issue a written warning, a safety notice, or a fine of up to $100. If your kid gets caught a second time within two years, the mandatory fine jumps to a maximum of $200. A third strike within that same two-year window triggers a fine of up to $300, and gives police the authority to impose additional "reasonable compliance conditions." Importantly, the state presumes you gave your kid permission if the e-bike is stored at your house, registered to you, or bought with your money.

What It Means for You

If you are a Colorado parent who bought an e-bike, electric scooter, or electric dirt bike for your teenager to commute to school or hang out with friends, this bill makes you directly responsible for their behavior on the road. If your teen decides to blow through an intersection, ride without a mandatory helmet, or zip recklessly through a pedestrian space, the financial penalty comes straight to your wallet. Legally, you are presumed guilty of "permitting" the behavior simply because the vehicle is parked in your garage or purchased with your credit card.

The good news is that this is strictly a civil infraction, meaning it won't land you a criminal record or add points to your driver's license. The bill also explicitly states that it does not alter the rules for adults riding e-bikes. Furthermore, there is a defense built into the legislation. You can rebut the presumption of guilt if you can prove your child took the bike without your permission, that you tried to lock it up and they bypassed your safeguards, or that they secretly modified a legally compliant e-bike to make it go faster without your knowledge. Still, fighting the ticket will take your time and energy in municipal or county court, meaning the easiest path forward is having a serious sit-down with your kids about traffic laws today.

Here is what you should do right now to prepare:

• Check the specs: Make sure you know exactly what class of e-bike your child is riding and the specific age and helmet laws tied to that class in Colorado. Class 3 e-bikes, for example, already have strict age restrictions.
• Set ground rules: Have a clear conversation with your kids about trail etiquette, sidewalk rules, and traffic laws. Remind them that they are driving a motorized vehicle, not a toy.
• Get involved: If you have strong feelings about this approach—either thinking it's exactly what your neighborhood needs or government overreach—reach out to your state representative or the members of the House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee.

What It Means for Your Business

For most standard business owners, this bill won't change your daily operations, but if you operate in the retail sporting goods, bike shop, or property management spaces, you need to pay close attention. E-bike retailers should anticipate a shift in how parents shop for these vehicles. If moms and dads know they are on the hook for up to $300 in fines for how their kids ride, they are going to ask a lot more questions about speed limiters, safety features, and exactly which classes of e-bikes are legal for a 14-year-old versus a 16-year-old.

If you sell e-bikes or electric dirt bikes, this is actually a fantastic opportunity to build trust and bundle safety mechanisms with your sales. You might want to create a quick, easy-to-read "Parent's Guide to Colorado E-Bike Laws" to hand out with every purchase. Property managers and HOA boards should also take note: if you've been fielding endless complaints from residents about teenagers zooming recklessly through your parking lots or community trails, this bill finally gives local law enforcement a tangible tool to address the problem without resorting to criminal charges against minors.

Here are a few specific steps business owners in these sectors should take this week:

• Update your buyer guides: If you sell e-bikes or electric scooters, prepare a one-pager explaining these potential parent penalties and clearly outlining Colorado's e-bike class rules.
• Stock up on locks and limiters: Parents looking to establish "reasonable safeguards" to avoid liability will likely want to buy physical locks, battery-removal systems, or software limiters. Make sure you have inventory to meet that demand.
• Communicate with residents: If you manage an HOA, apartment complex, or private community, draft a friendly newsletter mentioning this upcoming legislation. It's a great way to encourage safer riding on your property without having to be the bad guy yourself.

Follow the Money

Because this bill was just introduced on February 4, 2026, the official Legislative Council Staff Fiscal Note has not been published yet. However, looking at the mechanics of the bill, the fiscal impact on the state's general fund will be minimal. The bill creates civil infractions, meaning the fines—ranging from $100 to $300 per citation—will flow into local municipal or county coffers, depending on which law enforcement agency writes the ticket.

Keep in mind that this isn't designed to be a massive revenue generator for the government. The money generated by these fines will likely just offset the administrative costs of local police departments and county courts processing the citations and handling parental appeals. The real financial impact here is on the families paying the fines, as well as potential secondary boosts to local bike shops selling safety gear and locking mechanisms. We will update this section once the official fiscal note drops with hard revenue projections.

Where This Bill Stands

House Bill 26-1125 is at the very beginning of its legislative journey. Introduced by Representatives Brandi Bradley and John Carson on February 4, 2026, it has been assigned to the House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee.

Its next major hurdle will be a public hearing in that committee, where lawmakers will hear testimony from local law enforcement, cycling advocates, safety groups, and parents. Given the rising number of complaints about e-bike safety in Colorado communities—and the increasing popularity of electric dirt bikes on public trails—this bill tackles a highly visible issue and has a realistic path forward. If it survives the committee process and passes the full legislature, it is currently drafted to take effect on August 12, 2026, just in time for the start of the new school year.