New York City has intensified its crackdown on illegal electric bicycles and scooters. Recently, the Commissioner of the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), Samuel A. A. Levine, announced the results of law enforcement efforts across the city. From August to the end of September 2026, the DCWP inspected over 200 retail stores in all five boroughs, uncovering 136 violations and issuing 77 citations to businesses found in breach of regulations. Notably, Brooklyn recorded the highest number of violations among the boroughs. Some of the electric bicycles and scooters sold were capable of reaching speeds of up to 50 miles per hour, significantly exceeding the legal limits set by the city and posing a threat to public safety.
According to the DCWP, enforcement officers launched a citywide sweep between August 1 and September 30. They discovered numerous stores selling micro-mobility devices that do not comply with New York City’s safety standards, with the most common violation related to excessive speed. Many electric bicycles and scooters had powerful motors allowing them to reach top speeds far above the city’s regulations.
Levine emphasized that residents of New York City have the right to ensure that the electric mobility devices used and sold within their communities meet safety standards. Businesses cannot place the public at risk for the sake of profit. The DCWP will continue to utilize various enforcement measures to hold violators accountable. Consumers who suspect that a retailer is selling illegal or unsafe electric bicycles, scooters, or related batteries can report such concerns through the city’s website at nyc.gov/DCWP. A complaint form in Chinese is also available at: https://shorturl.at/reqnz.
Under New York City’s regulations, electric scooters must not exceed a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour and should not weigh more than 100 pounds; otherwise, they cannot be sold, rented, or operated within the city. Similarly, electric bicycles must adhere to specific requirements, including a maximum width of 36 inches, a motor power of less than 750 watts, and a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour.
Moreover, New York City Local Law 39 mandates that all battery-powered micro-mobility devices, including electric bicycles and scooters and their batteries, must comply with established safety certification standards from recognized testing laboratories, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Local Law 49 further requires that retailers selling these devices display safety information regarding the batteries, including certification details, both in physical stores and online.
Since the enforcement of these micro-mobility regulations began in 2023, the DCWP has conducted nearly a thousand inspections and issued over 460 citations to businesses for violations of Local Laws 39, 49, and regulations pertaining to motorized scooters.
With regard to online sales, the DCWP has issued more than 85 cease-and-desist notices to sellers violating Local Law 39, alongside 41 citations. In addition, the authorities have taken action against eight commercial premises suspected of violations, with three of those locations facing formal closure, while the remaining five completed remediation before any closure took place.
Overall, these intensified measures reflect New York City’s commitment to ensuring safety standards for electric mobility devices, aiming to protect the public while promoting responsible sales practices in the rapidly evolving micro-mobility market.