The recent tragedies involving a 16-year-old Chicago student who lost his life in an e-scooter crash and another child seriously injured in an e-bike crash are heartbreaking reminders that Illinois cannot afford to wait on commonsense safety regulations.
As Senator Darby Hills shared with FOX 32 Chicago, “Everybody was coming to me, my mayors, local officials, and chiefs of police, saying they were concerned about these high-powered e-bikes and e-scooters traveling up to 50 miles per hour.”
Right now, many of these high-powered vehicles fall into a gray area under Illinois law, making it difficult for law enforcement to address dangerous riding before tragedy strikes.
“The police don’t know how to police that because they’re not covered under the Illinois Vehicle Code,” Hills said. “They need to be regulated.”
Senator Hills co-sponsored this legislation and worked with her colleagues and key stakeholders to develop language establishing statewide safety standards for high-powered e-bikes and e-scooters. The legislation would give law enforcement clear authority to address unsafe riding and create consistent regulations across Illinois. It is not about banning these devices, it is about making sure they can be used safely.
No family should have to endure the unimaginable loss of a child because our laws have failed to keep pace with rapidly changing technology. While this legislation would not take effect until January 2027, Governor Pritzker’s signature is the next critical step toward putting these protections in place.
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