Electric bikes and other rides went through a rewrite

City Attorney John Steinmetz returned to the St. Augustine Beach City Commission on June 9 with a continued review of a proposed ordinance on electric mobility devices — still a draft, and still not up for first reading.

At the May 4 regular meeting, in a workshop-style review, Steinmetz walked through a framework that stopped short of a total ban but built classifications, operating rules, sidewalk limits, and enforcement tools. Commissioners talked age and speed, whether to simplify the technical categories, and a $100 fine with possible steps for repeat hits. They leaned away from forcing minors to carry government-issued identification and asked for a cleaner draft. No public speakers took the microphone after that presentation.

On June 9 the revisions were in: some provisions removed, enforcement authority clarified, the minimum operating age set at 12, and penalties left discretionary instead of a mandatory first warning. Members wanted e-scooters and one-wheels written in, and some pushed a higher age tied to a driver's license. They argued sidewalk limits versus a simpler rule on reckless operation — unsafe speeds, multiple riders, failure to obey traffic controls — and generally favored defined fines over an outright sidewalk ban.

That was not a casual traffic chat. It was city hall still deciding how far police can go when someone rides an e-bike or similar device, including who loses the assist that makes a normal trip workable.

Gary Testa, 449 Ocean Grove Circle, said the problem is improper use, not the devices, and cautioned against a ban that would hit seniors and people with mobility challenges. Deborah Testa, of the same address, said speed is the safety issue and asked the commission not to over-restrict. Nick Binder, 232 Big Magnolia Court, wanted a higher age limit with the Sun Trail coming and signage at beach access points and walkovers.

Staff was directed to clean up the language and bring a revised ordinance back for first reading at a future meeting.