Bill > S3178

Introduced Session

This bill amends current law concerning certain electric and motorized bicycles. The bill creates a new defined term of "electric motorized bicycle" which is defined under the bill to mean any two-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor capable of greater than 750 watts that can reach a speed greater than 28 miles per hour. Additionally, the bill redefines several terms including "low-speed electric bicycle," "motorized bicycle," "motorcycle," and "pedicab." Under the bill, "low-speed electric bicycle" is defined to mean a two-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour while "pedicab" is defined to now specify the types of electric motors that are included on these types of wheeled devices. "Motorcycle" is defined to include electric motorized bicycles and "motorized bicycle" is defined to include a pedal bicycle that is equipped with an electric motor that can provide assistance when the rider is pedaling or that, through the use of a throttle, can be used to exclusively propel the bicycle to a speed of not more than 15 miles per hour; a helper motor that is powered by an electric drive motor that provides assistance when the rider is pedaling and has a maximum speed between 21 miles per hour and 28 miles per hour on a flat surface; or an electric motor that is capable of propelling the bicycle in excess of 15 miles per hour through the use of a throttle with a maximum motor-powered speed of no more than 28 miles per hour on a flat surface. The bill also requires any law enforcement officer investigating an accident in which a low-speed electric bicycle or motorized bicycle is involved to report the accident to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) and to the Department of Transportation (DOT). Under current law, officers were required to report accidents only involving motorized bicycles and to report only to the MVC. The bill requires that the operator of a low-speed electric bicycle register the low-speed electric bicycle and have a driver's license to operate the low-speed electric bicycle. Under current law, operators of low-speed electric bicycles were not required to register the bicycle or have a driver's license. Additionally, the bill prohibits any person from operating a low-speed electric bicycle from dusk to dawn without a reflector installed on the low-speed electric bicycle and prohibits the sale or offer for sale of modification kits designed to turn a low-speed electric bicycle into a motorized bicycle or an electric motorized bicycle. The bill provides that if a pedestrian is involved in an accident resulting in injury or death to the pedestrian, the injury or death is required to be covered by the pedestrian's personal injury coverage. Under the bill, no person who is under 15 years of age is permitted to operate a low-speed electric bicycle or motorized bicycle and no person who is 17 years of age or older is permitted to operate a low-speed electric bicycle or motorized bicycle, unless the person is in possession of a valid basic driver's license or a valid motorized bicycle license or permit. Additionally, no person who is 15 years of age or older but under the age of 17 is permitted to operate a low-speed electric bicycle or motorized bicycle, unless the person is in possession of a valid motorized bicycle license or permit. The bill exempts any person who is operating a low-speed electric bicycle from the requirement to be in possession of a valid basic driver's license or valid motorized bicycle license or permit if the person is renting a low-speed electric bicycle from a company operating shared low-speed electric bicycles under a contract with a local government, provided that the company requires the operator to be 16 years of age or older. To obtain a valid license or permit to operate a low-speed electric bicycle, a person is required to meet the requirements to obtain a motorized bicycle license under current law. The bill requires the motorized bicycle examination to test the applicant's knowledge of the mechanisms of low-speed electric bicycles and the person's ability to operate a low-speed electric bicycle. Under the bill, the MVC is required to make registration forms for low-speed electric bicycles and motorized bicycles available at all MVC agency locations and on the MVC's Internet website. Additionally, all sellers of low-speed electric bicycles, motorized bicycles, and electric motorized bicycles are required to make the applicable registration forms available to individuals purchasing such bicycles. The form and content of the registration forms for low-speed electric bicycles and motorized bicycles are to conform to the requirements established by the rules and regulations adopted by the Chief Administrator of MVC (chief administrator). However, a company operating shared low-speed electric bicycles under a contract with a local government may provide the serial number or other identifying numbers of each low-speed electric bicycle owned by the company to the commission on a quarterly basis in lieu of registering each shared low-speed electric bicycle. The chief administrator may accept as proof of ownership an affidavit from the owner of a low-speed electric bicycle or motorized bicycle if certain conditions apply as provided in the bill. The bill makes it a crime of the fourth degree for a person to knowingly submit a false bill of sale, false receipt of purchase, or any other false proof of ownership, or to knowingly submit any false affidavit or false supporting document regarding proof of ownership of a low-speed electric bicycle or motorized bicycle. Under the bill, the MVC and DOT are required to prepare and submit an annual report to the Legislature concerning all information collected regarding the registration of motorized bicycles in this State since 2019 and one year following the effective date of the bill, and annually thereafter, the MVC and DOT are required to prepare and submit an annual report to the Legislature concerning the registration of low-speed electric bicycles and motorized bicycles in the State. The report is to include certain information outlined in the bill. The MVC is required to waive, for one year following the effective date of the bill, all examination, registration, and licensing fees for the operation of low-speed electric bicycles and motorized bicycles. Under the bill, a person is to have six months following the effective date of the bill to obtain insurance for a motorized bicycle that was not required to have insurance prior to the effective date, a registration certificate for a low-speed electric bicycle or motorized bicycle that was not required to be registered prior to the effective date, and a license to operate a low-speed electric bicycle or motorized bicycle if the person was not required to obtain a license to operate these bicycles prior to the effective date. Finally, the bill prohibits the sale or offer for sale on the Internet of any electric motorized bicycle for one year following the effective date of the bill.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Nick Scutari (D)*, 

Withdrawn Because Approved P.L.2025, c.285. (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document