by Garth Meyer
Redondo Beach Police Chief Joe Hoffman reported progress on the e-bike front in an Aug. 6 update to the city council, saying accidents are few, complaints are down and enforcement is up.
“Overwhelmingly, people are saying we want more enforcement,” he described about input at RBPD town events over the past six months. “They want parents to be held accountable too for juvenile (offenders), and for a license to be required to operate an e-bike.”
He totaled 135 citations written by Redondo police in the past six months, mainly for no-helmet, disobeying stop signs and illegal passengers.
“There were a lot more enforcement stops than (135). Because sometimes a warning is appropriate,” he said.
Hoffman noted that Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach have each adopted ordinances in the past year that apply specific fines for e-bike violations. While Redondo has no such ordinance, the chief does not think it is necessary.
“We have plenty of statutes that allow us to enforce (against) e-bikes,” he said. “… I want to stress, and I am very passionate about this, I have been for my whole career, enforcement is meant to correct behavior and not (just) be punitive.”
He explained that the neighboring cities’ ordinances are “administrative only” – meaning violations require no court appearances – while Redondo’s system means court appearances, depending on the infraction, and for juveniles, requirement for a parent to be in attendance.
“What Manhattan and Hermosa are doing is working, they’re having success with it. I think what’s most important is all of the cities are working together to have a positive effect,” Hoffman said.
He reported that Redondo Unified School District is launching a requirement this week for students in grades 6-8 in the coming school year to have training – and sticker proof of it– to park an e-bike at school.
“We’re hoping 600-800 students will be trained by next month,” he said.
The chief said partnerships with other South Bay police departments began this summer for e-bike enforcement detail operations.
As far as accidents, Hoffman reported that the number remains low.
“We have not had a lot of e-bike accidents,” he said.
“The number of complaints has gone down quite a bit,” he added, in further comments to the council, noting it may be because school is out for summer and there is not a concentrated mass of e-bikers twice per day.
The chief also talked about the potential to add a diversion program for e-bike infractions – like traffic school – which the Redondo Beach city attorney’s office is now investigating. It would require approval by Los Angeles County Superior Court.
City Councilman Todd Loewenstein told of the area around RUHS as “the wild west in the morning,” and asked about aligning with other cities’ ordinances.
Councilmember Paige Kaluderovic spoke in favor of juveniles and parents being required to go to court rather than only be subject to fines.
“Great job, great work,” said Councilman Scott Behrendt. “… My one request is to keep up the great work.”
“It’s been a remarkable difference since Memorial Day,” said Councilman Nils Nehrenheim. “There’s definitely been an increased amount of awareness by the kids.”
The council requested another update from the chief next April – after the March election brings at least two new councilmembers (Loewenstein and Nehrenheim will term out).
Chief Hoffman also on Tuesday talked about State Assembly Bill 530, and 2234, which aim to create age restrictions for classes of e-bikes.
“The (current) law doesn’t allow us to do an investigative stop to determine what class an e-bike is,” he said.
“… I do think this is a problem that needs state legislation.”
At the conclusion of the chief’s report, the owner of the 7-Eleven on Aviation and Grant Avenue presented 1,000 Slurpee coupons to the RBPD to use in its e-bike positive reinforcement program.
“Motion to receive and file those immediately,” Councilman Nehrenheim said. ER
