06/10/2026
What a turnout!
Tonight’s community education meeting was very well attended, with nearly 75 community members eager to learn about the laws, safety, and enforcement surrounding the hot topic of e-bikes and e-motorcycles.
In the meeting, we identified the different classes of e-bikes and defined e-motorcycles. Check out the details in the graphic in the comment section.
In Nampa, you can ride e-bikes on Stoddard Pathway, Wilson Pathway, Lakeview Park Trails, Nampa Fitness Trail, and West Park Trail. You can also ride on roads and in bike lanes, keeping as far to the right as practical.
Some of the safety tips given to tonight’s audience included a helmet and closed-toed shoes, and we also recommend removing at least one of your earphones/earbuds/etc. so you can hear what is happening around you. These things are not requirements, but they are strongly suggested.
The audience agreed that e-bikes are not the biggest concern in our community. E-motorcycles were the topic with the most interest and concern. They are also what we are having problems with:
Daily incidents reported by Nampa officers and community members include excessive speed, weaving in and out of traffic, carrying passengers, riding on sidewalks, endangering pedestrians and other users, and overall reckless behavior.
What is an e-motorcycle?
If an electric or gas vehicle lacks functional pedals or exceeds 750 W (e.g., Sur-Rons, high-powered electric motorbikes), it is classified as a Motor-Driven Cycle or Motorcycle.
▪️The operator must possess a valid driver’s license, and the vehicle must be properly titled and registered with a visible license plate.
▪️ Operators and passengers under 18 years old must wear an approved helmet.
▪️ E-motorcycles are strictly prohibited on sidewalks, multi-use pathways, or within city parks.
Street Legal requirements:
▪️ Licensing: Operator must possess a valid driver’s license (IC 49-301)
▪️ M Endorsement if riding on roadway, not needed on Restricted Vehicle (RV) plates for off-road only
▪️ Registration: The vehicle must be properly titled with a visible license plate (IC 49-402)
▪️ Must carry insurance
▪️ Equipment: Must meet federal safety standards (Lights, horn, brakes) and include a noise suppression/exhaust system.
▪️ Passenger: Must ride on the rear seat permanently affixed with foot pegs (49-665)
▪️ Helmets: Operators and passengers under the age of 18 must wear an approved helmet. (IC 49-666)
Education is our main goal, but there was also discussion about enforcement options for motorcycles, including the possibility of parents being cited for failing to supervise their children. In Nampa, the first encounter with a parent in most situations would be a warning that is noted in our in-house system, but if it were to happen again, the parent will be cited.
Here is a list of possible violations with the Idaho code:
▪️ Unlicensed Driver (IC 49-301)
▪️ Allowing an unlicensed Minor or person to drive (IC 49-333)
▪️ Operating a motorcycle without an endorsement (IC 49-304)
▪️ Failure to supervise (warning/ summons) (NMC 6-3-4)
▪️ Unregistered vehicle (IC 49-401)
▪️ Prohibited Area Violation (NMC 6-5-3)
▪️ Reckless/Inattentive Driving (IC 49-1401)
We had a great discussion after our presentation. One thing we told the audience is that we do not have enough officers to catch everyone on every path or in every park. We also made it clear that our roadways must be our top priority, but we’ll continue to do our best. We also asked if there was a recurring problem in an area, to consider reporting the incidents that are not in progress online to keep our dispatchers free for priority calls. You can do that at www.nampapolice.org
We took notes, we’ll follow up on several topics, and we were very pleased with the community members who showed up tonight. It is obvious that you care about our community!
Hopefully, the information in this post is helpful to those who couldn’t attend. If you have questions, please message us, and we’ll do our best to get you the answers.
