15-05-2025
Westville Police Dept. issues reminders for electric bike, scooter laws
WESTVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — As the number of complaints for electric bikes and scooters has increased recently, the Westville Police Department is providing information so people can brush up on the laws regarding these modes of transportation.
In a letter to parents on May 5, Police Chief Justin M Varvel addressed the issue of the complaints the department has been receiving about juveniles operating electric scooters and bikes in a reckless or careless manner. This includes riding them in places they are not permitted to with no regard for the rules of the road and placing themselves and others at risk of injury.
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Varvel is encouraging parents to talk to their children about bicycle safety and the rules of the road for bikes and scooters, such as stopping at stop signs and obeying traffic signals in order to prevent an accident before it occurs.
He said most e-bikes can be operated by anyone without a driver's license as long as the motor is under 750 watts and the bike doesn't go over 20 miles per hour. On the other hand, a Class 3 e-bike with a motor under 750 watts but capable of achieving a speed of up to 28 mph requires the rider to be at least 16 years old.
Additionally, if the bike has a motor that's more than 750 watts, it is considered a motorized vehicle and has to comply with all applicable regulations including driver's licensing requirements.
'If your child has an e-bike, please ensure what class it falls into, and that your child is able to legally operate it,' Varvel said.
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Some of the most common problems the department has observed are children not stopping at intersections with traffic signals or stop signs, not yielding to pedestrians or vehicles with the right of way and operating their scooter or bike in a reckless manner. They have also received a number of reports of children operating these e-bikes and scooters on Route 1.
Officers in Westville will begin stopping people they witness violating the rules of the road and take the chance to teach them the importance of following them.
'Our goal is to prevent a foreseeable tragedy in our community. To do so requires action from our community, and more importantly, parents,' Varvel said. 'By educating our parents and children about basic bicycle safety, rules of the road, and existing laws in regard to bicycles, e-bikes, and electric scooters, I believe we can make this happen and avoid the unthinkable.'
Additional information on the rules of the road for bikes in Illinois can be found at
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