New jersey cops seize illegal e-bike after 12-year-old flees traffic stop

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ – A 12-year-old boy riding a modified e-bike sparked a chase through town Tuesday after refusing to stop for a police officer, authorities said.

The juvenile was spotted operating a Class 3 e-bike in violation of several New Jersey traffic laws when an officer attempted to pull him over, police said. Instead of complying, the boy bolted, ditching the bike in a resident’s shed before running off on foot. He later returned to the scene.

When officers inspected the bike, they found the pedals zip-tied to the frame and the chain removed, making the vehicle no longer a legal e-bike but an unregistered, uninsured motorized vehicle. Labels identifying it as a Class 3 bike with a 1500KW battery had also been removed, officials said.

The Hackettstown Police Department impounded the vehicle, noting it is subject to the same towing fees as a standard motor vehicle. The juvenile was released into his parents’ custody, but police said the parents will face the motor vehicle summonses tied to the violations.

Pending summonses include operating an unregistered motor vehicle, operating an uninsured vehicle, driving without a license, improper operation of low-speed electric bicycles, speeding across a sidewalk, and a local ordinance violation for use of unlicensed vehicles, police said.

Authorities urged parents to carefully check e-bike classifications and review the department’s e-bike flow chart to ensure compliance with state law.

Key Points

A 12-year-old Hackettstown boy fled from police on a modified Class 3 e-bike.
The bike was determined to be an unregistered, uninsured motor vehicle and was impounded.
Parents will receive multiple motor vehicle summonses tied to the incident.

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