Nassau County Sheriff Says 7 Teens Have Been Arrested on E-Bikes in 2026, Up From 2 in 2025: What Florida's E-Bike Rules Say

YULEE, Fla. - Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper says seven teenagers have been arrested in connection with e-bike incidents so far in 2026, compared with two in all of 2025. The sheriff's office is asking parents to talk with their children about road rules after deputies reported reckless late-night riding in Callahan and Yulee. Under Florida law, e-bikes are treated much like bicycles, but the rules on helmets, lights and traffic laws still apply.

What deputies reported

According to News4JAX, Deputy Anthony Lydon was on proactive patrol near U.S. 1 and State Road 200 in Callahan when he saw three e-bikes heading north late at night. The e-bikes had no working lights, and one rider did a wheelie as he passed the deputy. When deputies tried to make a traffic stop, the riders did not pull over and kept riding recklessly. One teen crashed during the pursuit and was taken into custody, and he led deputies to a home where the other two were found.

All three teens were charged with felony fleeing and eluding and with reckless driving, News4JAX reported. Days later, deputies saw another teen riding recklessly on State Road 200 in Yulee, at one point crossing into oncoming traffic. That teen was arrested for felony fleeing and eluding. The reports did not state the teens' ages or name them.

The sheriff's message

Action News Jax reported that Leeper counted seven teen arrests this year against two last year. The station's headline says arrests "triple," though seven compared with two is closer to three and a half times as many. Video released by the office showed the three teens in Callahan riding without lights past a deputy and a separate clip of a teen riding into oncoming traffic in Yulee.

"When you're young like that, you think you're invincible," Leeper said, according to Action News Jax. He also asked, "Why are they out after midnight? They should be at home." The sheriff urged parents to act now, saying, "You can talk to them today about it, or one day you may talk in a funeral home."

Deputy Lydon said in the department's warning that "these are serious criminal charges that can have lasting consequences for your children." He added that riding e-bikes recklessly can lead to serious injuries or even death. The Sheriff's Office also posted on social media that it is "time for a conversation" between parents and teens.

Could a teen be held in detention?

Action News Jax reported that a point-based tool called the Detention Risk Assessment Instrument helps determine whether a juvenile is detained. Around 13 points can mean detention, according to the station, and a repeat offense makes detention more likely. The office said some teens facing e-bike charges could be sent to juvenile detention depending on their prior records.

That is a reminder that e-bike offenses can lead to the same outcomes as other traffic crimes. A felony charge such as fleeing and eluding is far more serious than a ticket for missing a helmet. Parents who want specifics about a particular charge should ask the State Attorney's Office or a lawyer, since each case depends on its facts.

Florida's e-bike rules in plain language

Florida law, in Section 316.20655, says an electric bicycle is a vehicle "to the same extent as a bicycle," and its rider has the same rights and duties as a bicycle rider. E-bikes and their riders are exempt from driver's license, registration, title and insurance requirements. The motor must stop helping when the rider stops pedaling or applies the brakes, and manufacturers have had to attach a label showing the class, top assisted speed and motor wattage since Jan. 1, 2021.

Here are the rules most relevant to teens. They come from the state statutes and from the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles bicycle safety page, which covers helmets and lights. Local governments can add their own rules on top of these.

• Helmets: Riders and passengers under age 16 must wear a properly fitted helmet, according to Section 316.2065.
• Lights: From sunset to sunrise, a bike needs a white front light visible from 500 feet and a red rear light visible from 600 feet, plus a rear reflector.
• Traffic laws: E-bike riders must follow the same traffic rules as drivers of cars, Action News Jax noted.
• Local rules: Cities and counties can set a minimum rider age and require a government-issued photo ID, under Section 316.20655(8). They can also restrict e-bikes on sidewalks, trails and beaches.
• Penalties: A helmet or lighting violation is a noncriminal infraction. A first violation can be dismissed if the rider shows proof of buying a compliant helmet or installing proper lights.

Questions parents are asking

Many parents wonder whether a teen can ride an e-bike without a license. Under the statute, e-bikes are exempt from driver's license requirements, so no license is required for a compliant e-bike. That does not make reckless riding legal, and the Nassau cases involved charges that go well beyond equipment violations.

Another common question is whether a local age limit applies. Florida law lets local governments set one, but the reports did not say whether Nassau County or its towns have adopted such a rule. Families can check with the Sheriff's Office or their city hall.

What happens next

The Sheriff's Office has not announced any new enforcement operation tied to the e-bike arrests. Its message for now is a request for parents to speak with their teenagers. Anyone who sees dangerous riding in Nassau County can contact the Sheriff's Office.