Full Breakdown
New York City Cracks Down on Illegal High-Speed E-Bikes and E-Scooters
8/7/2026, 8:56:46 PM
Mayor Targets Illegal E-Bike Sales
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that the city’s Corporation Counsel, Steve Banks, has issued cease-and-desist letters to 42 online retailers—including Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Deepower, Segway and Wilson’s—accusing them of selling motorized two-wheelers that exceed New York City speed and power limits. The letters give the sellers a deadline to stop marketing the devices as e-bikes; each continued infraction could trigger a $2,000 fine.
The action follows the death of Gabriel Nacato, a 17-year-old struck by an SUV while riding a Deepower QS7 that reaches 30 mph with a 1500-watt motor, both above the city’s 25 mph and 750-watt limits.
Legislative Push by City Council
Speaker Julie Menin unveiled a slate of 17 bills to be debated at an upcoming hearing. The proposals address several aspects of micromobility safety:
- Intro 244 – bans sale and rental of Class 3 e-bikes (up to 25 mph with throttle).
- Intro 950 – requires delivery services to obtain a business license from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.
- Intro 110 – expands commercial bike-safety laws, mandating safety equipment and record-keeping for delivery workers.
- Intro 787 – obliges the NYPD to publicly report “targeted” traffic enforcement involving e-bikes and e-scooters.
- Intro 78 – compels third-party apps to disclose driver IDs, delivery times and locations.
Council members Gale Brewer, Shaun Abreu, Selvena Brooks-Powers, Lynn Schulman, Lincoln Restler and Oswald Feliz sponsor the bills, which aim to curb illegal devices, improve data collection, and strengthen enforcement.
Data on Fatalities and Collisions
- From 2017-2025, 45 e-bike rider deaths involved illegal devices, representing 54 % of e-bike fatalities.
- In the same period, 14 stand-up scooter deaths involved vehicles capable of over 20 mph, accounting for 52 % of scooter fatalities.
- DOT reports 560 e-bike and 795 stand-up scooter collisions in the first three weeks of July, a 28 % rise from the prior year.
- The department also notes 20 e-bike and e-scooter deaths this year, up from 13 in the comparable period last year.
Official Statements & Responses
Corporation Counsel Banks said the city will consider litigation if retailers fail to comply, noting that legal action could include both fines and injunctions against misleading advertisements.
Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert warning that the devices are illegal under city law.
Criticism & Opposition
Delivery-industry representatives warned that some bills could impose additional financial burdens on workers, many of whom are immigrants, and could inadvertently criminalize delivery operations.
What’s Next
Retailers must cease illegal sales by the deadline or face fines and possible litigation. The council hearing will determine which of the 17 bills advance, with particular attention to the Class 3 e-bike ban, delivery-service licensing, and NYPD enforcement reporting. Mayor Mamdani has indicated he will work with the council on legislation but will hold off on supporting any rider-registration proposals until the language is reviewed.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources agree that illegal high-speed devices are a major factor in recent deaths, but precise percentages differ: one report cites 54 % of e-bike deaths involving illegal devices, while another references “the majority” without a specific figure. Comprehensive data on injuries versus fatalities remains limited, leaving a gap in understanding the full public-health impact.
