E-Bike, E-Scooter, and High-Speed Electric Vehicle Regulations


 PUBLIC SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENT from the Boonsboro Police Department
With the rapid growth of electric micro-mobility, the Boonsboro Police Department wants to ensure all residents understand the legal boundaries governing electric bicycles (e-bikes) and electric scooters.
Maryland law separates these devices into strict categories based on speed, power, and functionality. Operating a device outside its lawful zone can result in heavy traffic citations, fines, or immediate vehicle impoundment.
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1. The Three Legal Classes of E-Bikes (Under 750 Watts / Max 28 mph)
To be legally classified as an "electric bicycle" in Maryland, a device must have fully operational pedals and an electric motor of 750 watts (1 horsepower) or less. They fall into three categories:
     • Class 1 (Pedal-Assist Only): The motor assists only when the rider pedals and completely cuts out at 20 mph.
     • Class 2 (Throttle-Actuated): The motor can propel the bicycle via a throttle without pedaling but completely cuts out at 20 mph.
     • Class 3 (Speed Pedal-Assist): The motor assists only when the rider pedals and cuts out at 28 mph.
  Age Restriction: State law mandates that operators of Class 3 e-bikes must be at least 16 years old.
Required Documentation & Equipment for Legal E-Bikes:
     • No MVA Registration: True Class 1, 2, and 3 e-bikes do not require a driver’s license, a license plate, vehicle registration, or insurance.
     • Safety Gear: Operators must use functional brakes and an audible signaling device (bell or horn). Helmets are legally mandatory for any operator or passenger under the age of 16.
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2. Electric Low-Speed Scooters (E-Scooters)
An electric low-speed scooter is a standing or sitting device with handlebars, a deck, and a motor that tops out at 20 mph.
     • Documentation: Like e-bikes, legal e-scooters do not require registration or a driver’s license.
     • Traffic Laws: E-scooter operators are legally bound by all standard rules of the road, including stopping at stop signs, yielding right-of-way, and riding with the flow of traffic.
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3. The 30+ mph Danger: High-Speed "Out-of-Class" Electric Vehicles
The Police Department is observing an influx of heavy electric vehicles—often marketed online as "high-power e-bikes"—capable of reaching speeds from 30 mph to over 50 mph.
The Public Must Know: These are NOT legal e-bikes. If an electric two-wheeled vehicle can exceed 28 mph via motor power, or lacks operable pedals, it is legally classified as a Moped, Motor Scooter, or Motorcycle under Maryland law.
     • The Law: Operating an electric device that goes 30–50 mph on public property requires a valid Driver’s License, MVA Title, Vehicle Registration, a visible License Plate, and Insurance.
     • Illegal Use: Operating an unregistered 30–50 mph electric bike/scooter on town roadways without a license or helmet is a major motor vehicle offense. These vehicles will be immediately seized and towed to impound, and operators (or their parents, if juveniles) will face serious traffic citations.