HomeIn the last year, e-bike law enforcement in Marin County has changed, especially for younger riders. In 2025, Marin County and all 11 Marin cities and towns adopted local ordinances under Assembly Bill 1778, a Marin-specific pilot program. The new rules focus on Class 2 e-bikes—the throttle-equipped bikes that can travel up to 20 mph without pedaling. Under these ordinances, riders under 16 may not operate a Class 2 e-bike in Marin, and all Class 2 riders must wear helmets, regardless of age.
That is a major shift from prior law. Before AB 1778, local governments in Marin could not create their own separate age and helmet requirements for Class 2 e-bikes. California’s Vehicle Code generally controls e-bike classifications, age limits, and helmet rules statewide. AB 1778 created a limited exception just for Marin County, allowing local agencies to adopt stricter rules for Class 2 e-bikes. It did not change the rules for Class 1 e-bikes, which remain legal for riders of any age, and it did not alter the existing statewide rule that Class 3 riders must be at least 16 and wear helmets.
Just as important as the substance of the law is the way enforcement now works. AB 1778 required a public education campaign before the ordinances could be enforced, and Marin responded with its countywide “E-Bikers Club” campaign aimed at families and teens. The law also required a warning-only period during the first 60 days after the new rules took effect. In other words, Marin deliberately rolled this out in stages: first education, then warnings, then active enforcement. By late summer 2025, local police agencies were signaling that the warning period was ending. In an August 2025 community notice, Central Marin Police told families that officers would begin issuing citations, contacting parents, and towing illegal e-bikes after the 60-day warning period expired. That message matters because it shows these rules are not just symbolic. In Marin, officers now have clearer authority and apparent direction to stop and cite riders for violations involving underage use of Class 2 e-bikes and Class 2 helmet violations.
The penalties are modest but real. After the warning period, AB 1778 requires violations to be treated as infractions punishable by a $25 fine. The statute also says parents or guardians can be jointly liable for a minor’s fine, and it requires Marin County to collect detailed enforcement data—including stops, warnings, citations, and certain demographic information—and report that data to the Legislature by January 1, 2028. Unless extended, the pilot program sunsets on January 1, 2029.
For injured riders and families, these enforcement changes matter beyond traffic tickets. After a crash, insurers and attorneys may closely examine what class of bike was involved, the rider’s age, helmet use, and whether local rules were followed. But a violation does not automatically decide a personal injury case. Drivers still owe duties of care, road design still matters, and every collision must be evaluated on its own facts.
Recent news about e-bikes in Marin County:
Special Committee on Youth E-Bike Safety | Marin County
Huffman proposes new federal laws on electric two-wheelers