Kelowna RCMP seize e-dirt bikes from young riders

Kelowna cops have seized three electric dirt bikes from young riders amid mounting complaints about the unregulated machines.

Police came upon the three youths riding “dangerously in traffic” last week, and the situation escalated when they fled from RCMP.

Police would later find them without incident, resorting to both seizing the e-dirt bikes and ticketing the underage riders, according to a Kelowna RCMP news release issued today, May 27.

“Traffic safety remains a focused priority for the Kelowna RCMP, with specific attention on high-risk driving behaviour,” detachment spokesperson Cpl. Steven Lang said in the release.

It’s not clear where police encountered the bikes, but similarly-styled e-dirt bikes are often seen in Okanagan communities and elsewhere in the province. Police across BC have issued warnings about these e-dirt bikes.

Unlike regulated, motor-assisted e-bikes allowed on BC roads, these are typically throttle-driven and often don’t require or use pedals. In addition to their prohibited status in BC, riders of throttle-equipped e-bikes that meet provincial regulations must be at least 16 years old.

It’s also not clear how much the riders were fined, but the police encounter will likely be more costly than simply paying traffic tickets. After impounding the e-dirt bikes, police initiated proceedings through BC’s Civil Forfeiture Office.

Civil forfeiture law is typically used in cases where the items seized were used for the purpose of committing another crime, or they are considered proceeds of crime. It’s a process crafted for combatting organized crime.

The provincial law does, however, include a carveout for property that has, or could, result in serious bodily harm to a person.

iNFOnews.ca has reached out to Kelowna RCMP for more information.