A group of nine New York state senators is calling on Attorney General Letitia James to issue a formal consumer alert regarding the sale of illegal, high-speed micromobility vehicles. The request follows a fatal May 28 head-on collision on the Queensboro Bridge involving a cyclist and an operator on a high-powered electric scooter. Lawmakers argue that online retailers are currently marketing and shipping vehicles that far exceed state safety and speed regulations to New York customers, creating an unregulated market that bypasses local enforcement.
Legislative Push for Consumer Safety
The coalition of senators, led by State Sen. Erik Bottcher, contends that consumers are being left to navigate an “unregulated Wild West” when purchasing electric scooters and e-motos online. According to the senators, vehicles such as the Blade GT II—identified by Streetsblog as the model involved in the May 28 fatality—can reach speeds of 53 mph. This performance capacity significantly exceeds New York state’s 20 mph limit for e-scooters and the 750W power cap for e-bikes.
The senators are requesting that the Attorney General’s office follow the precedent set by California Attorney General Rob Bonta. In April, Bonta issued a consumer alert clarifying that retailers selling e-bikes capable of exceeding 28 mph are in violation of state law. Following that warning, Amazon implemented measures to block the shipping of non-street-legal vehicles to California addresses. New York lawmakers hope a similar alert could pressure major online retailers to adopt identical shipping restrictions for the Empire State.
Did You Know? The Blade GT II scooter involved in the May 28 collision is advertised to reach 53 miles per hour in four seconds, a speed capacity more than six times the legal wattage limit established for e-bikes in New York.
Regulatory Challenges and Future Legislation
While city law enforcement has largely curtailed the sale of illegal micromobility devices at brick-and-mortar storefronts, online commerce remains a primary point of concern. State Sen. Liz Krueger emphasized that “point of sale” regulations could provide a necessary common ground for addressing public safety. The senators have pledged to introduce formal legislation during the next session to further regulate these sales.
The proposed legislative efforts aim to avoid the path taken by other states, such as New Jersey, which recently implemented a registration requirement for all low-speed e-bikes. Lawmakers fear that such broad mandates may unfairly impact users of legal, low-speed devices without effectively addressing the proliferation of high-speed, illegal e-motos. The Attorney General’s office has confirmed receipt of the letter and is currently reviewing the request.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current legal limit for e-scooters in New York?
Under state law, the maximum speed for stand-up e-scooters is 20 mph. There is no clear wattage cutoff for these specific devices in state law.
Why are lawmakers targeting online retailers?
Lawmakers state that online retailers are shipping high-powered, non-street-legal vehicles directly to New York addresses with little warning regarding local laws or safety risks, effectively bypassing the enforcement that has been successful against physical stores.
What action has the Attorney General taken so far?
A spokesperson for the Attorney General’s office stated that they have received the letter from the nine senators and are currently reviewing it.
How can the city reconcile the presence of legal micromobility riders with the safety risks posed by high-speed, illegal motor devices?