Lomita Municipal Code Ch. 9 Bicycle Registration and Electric Bicycle Safety

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 892, § 2, adopted June 16, 2026, amended Ch. 9 in its entirety, in effect repealing and reenacting said Ch. 9 to read as set out herein. The former Ch. 9, §§ 3-9.01—3.9.12, pertained to bicycle registration and derived from Ord. No. 202, § 1, adopted Sept. 15, 1975.

A person shall not operate or permit to be operated on any highway in the City of Lomita any bicycle propelled wholly or in part by muscular power, which bicycle is normally kept or stored within the City of Lomita, unless and until such bicycle is registered with the sheriff as provided in this chapter.

(Ord. No. 892, § 2, 6-16-26)

Any person desiring to register a bicycle shall make application therefor in writing to the sheriff upon forms provided by the city. Such form shall show:

(a) The name and address of the applicant.

(b) A description of the bicycle to be registered, including the name, and number, if any, and color thereof.

(c) Such other information or description as the sheriff may require. Upon receipt of any such application, the sheriff shall register the said bicycle in a permanent register maintained by him and give such bicycle an identifying number.

(Ord. No. 892, § 2, 6-16-26)

When a bicycle is registered the sheriff shall issue to the applicant a registration certificate and license plate which may be in the form of a decal. Both the registration certificate and license plate shall bear the registration number assigned.

(Ord. No. 892, § 2, 6-16-26)

A bicycle registration and license issued by the County of Los Angeles under the provisions of Ordinance No. 3027 of said county, as amended, prior to, and to be effective prior to, the effective date of this section shall be valid for, and shall expire at the end of, the period set forth in such registration. A bicycle registration and license issued for a period commencing on or after such effective date shall expire four (4) years after the end of the thirty-first day of December of the year during which such registration and license first take effect, except that, if prior to the expiration of what otherwise would be the license period:

(a) The bicycle is sold or title thereto otherwise transferred and no application to transfer such license is made within five (5) days of such transfer of ownership, such license shall expire at the end of such five-day period.

(b) The bicycle is sold or title otherwise transferred for the purpose of resale, the license shall expire upon such transfer.

(Ord. No. 892, § 2, 6-16-26)

If the license plate or decal is lost, stolen or mutilated, the person owning such bicycle shall make an application to re-register such bicycle. The applicant shall pay a fee of fifty cents ($0.50) and procure from the sheriff a new license plate. The sheriff shall cancel the registration of such bicycle in the permanent register, shall re-register such bicycle, and if necessary, give to such bicycle, a new identifying number.

(Ord. No. 892, § 2, 6-16-26)

A person shall not operate on any highway in the City of Lomita, any bicycle propelled in whole or in part by muscular power, which bicycle normally is kept or stored within said city, unless the license plate issued therefor shall at all times be maintained on such bicycle.

(Ord. No. 892, § 2, 6-16-26)

In addition to any other reports required by this chapter, every person who, either in the course of business, or otherwise sells or transfers ownership to any bicycle or bicycle frame, except a new bicycle or new bicycle frame, within seven (7) days thereafter:

(a) If a registration card has been issued to such person, firm or corporation, such person shall return such registration card to the sheriff and inform him of the name and address of the person to whom such bicycle or bicycle frame was transferred.

(b) In other cases such person, firm or corporation shall report to the sheriff in writing specifying:

(1) The name and address of the person to whom such bicycle or bicycle frame was sold or transferred.

(2) The description of such bicycle or bicycle frame.

(3) The frame number.

(4) The number of the license plate attached thereto, or if no such license plate is attached or the number is illegible, a statement of such fact.

(5) Such other facts as the sheriff may require.

(Ord. No. 892, § 2, 6-16-26)

A person shall not operate or use, or cause or permit to be operated or used, any such bicycle in, along or across any public highway in this city unless there shall have been first obtained by or on behalf of the owner of such bicycle a license so to do, which license shall be procured from the Los Angeles County Tax Collector through the sheriff, and for which the applicant shall have paid a license fee in the sum of fifty cents ($0.50). Each such license shall entitle the licensee to operate such bicycle for which such license shall have been issued, upon any of the public highways within the City of Lomita. The fee retention by the Los Angeles County Tax Collector is to defray the cost of licensing.

(Ord. No. 892, § 2, 6-16-26)

For each bicycle licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, the sheriff shall issue a license plate which may be in the form of a decal or such other form as the sheriff deems appropriate. Such license plates shall be numbered as directed by the sheriff, and shall contain the letters:

"L. A. Co. B. L."

The sheriff shall attach such license plate to the frame of the bicycle for which issued. A person shall not transfer, and a person shall not cause or permit to be transferred, any such license plate to any bicycle for which the same was not issued.

(Ord. No. 892, § 2, 6-16-26)

Upon the sale or transfer of any such bicycle licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, if such sale or transfer is not for the purpose of resale, the purchaser or transferee thereof may have such license transferred to such purchaser or transferee upon application to the sheriff for such transfer within five (5) days after such sale or transfer of ownership. Such new owner or transferee shall make application to the sheriff in writing giving the same information as is required to register a bicycle, and also stating the license number.

If such an application is not made within five (5) days the license shall expire and a new registration and new license shall be obtained.

(Ord. No. 892, § 2, 6-16-26)

Every auctioneer, auto wrecker, foundry, pawnbroker, secondhand dealer, junk dealer, or bicycle dealer shall notify the sheriff in writing on forms prescribed by the sheriff, not less often than once a week of every bicycle received in the course of business by him since his last report. In such reports he shall describe each such bicycle and give the license number thereof, if any. In addition he shall supply such other information as the sheriff shall require.

This section requires such a report in all cases, without exception.

(Ord. No. 892, § 2, 6-16-26)

An auctioneer, auto wrecker, foundry, pawnbroker, secondhand dealer, junk dealer, or bicycle dealer receiving any bicycle in the course of business shall not sell, transfer, deliver, destroy or alter any such bicycle until fourteen (14) days after its receipt has been reported to the sheriff.

(Ord. No. 892, § 2, 6-16-26)

For purposes of sections 3-9.13 through 3-9.22, the following words and terms, wherever and whenever used or appearing, shall have the scope and meaning hereinafter defined:

(a) Class 1 electric bicycle means a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of twenty (20) miles per hour, as defined in California Vehicle Code section 312.5(a)(1).

(b) Class 2 electric bicycle means a bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of twenty (20) miles per hour, as defined in California Vehicle Code section 312.5(a)(2).

(c) Class 3 electric bicycle means a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of twenty-eight (28) miles per hour, as defined in California Vehicle Code section 312.5(a)(3).

(d) Dismount zone means any area designated by resolution of the city council or by administrative order of the city manager, and clearly marked with signage, prohibiting the riding of bicycles, electric bicycles, or motor-driven devices and requiring operators to dismount and walk their device.

(e) Electric bicycle shall have the same meaning as set forth in California Vehicle Code section 312.5, and includes Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 electric bicycles as defined in this section.

(f) Minor means any person under eighteen (18) years of age.

(g) Motor-driven device means any electrically powered or motorized two- or three-wheeled device that is designed to convey one or more persons and does not meet the definition of an electric bicycle under California Vehicle Code section 312.5.

(h) Responsible adult means a parent or legal guardian of a minor.

(Ord. No. 892, § 2, 6-16-26)

Sections 3-9.13 through 3-9.22 apply to the operation of all electric bicycles and motor-driven devices on public streets, sidewalks, bicycle paths, parks, plazas, and other public areas within the City of Lomita.

The provisions of sections 3-9.13 through 3-9.22 shall not apply to wheelchairs and power-driven mobility devices as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act, 28 C.F.R. § 35.104, or to motorized quadricycles and motorized tricycles as defined in California Vehicle Code section 407, when operated in a safe manner by an individual with a disability in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Sections 3-9.13 through 3-9.22 shall be construed consistently with the California Vehicle Code. To the extent any provision conflicts with the California Vehicle Code, the California Vehicle Code shall control.

(Ord. No. 892, § 2, 6-16-26)

No person shall operate an electric bicycle or motor-driven device:

(a) On any sidewalk within a business district, as defined in California Vehicle Code section 235;

(b) In any city park, plaza, playground, or recreation area where posted signs prohibit such use;

(c) In any city-owned or city-operated facility or parking structure; or

(d) In any posted dismount zone.

No person shall operate a Class 3 electric bicycle in any location where such operation is prohibited pursuant to California Vehicle Code section 21207.5 or by posted city restriction.

The city manager is authorized to designate and post additional restricted areas and dismount zones consistent with this chapter and applicable state law.

(Ord. No. 892, § 2, 6-16-26)

(a) Speed. No person shall operate an electric bicycle or motor-driven device at a speed exceeding twenty-eight (28) miles per hour, or at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the surrounding conditions then existing, including pedestrian traffic, vehicular traffic, weather, visibility, roadway or path width, and the functional limitations of the device. In no event shall any person operate such device at a speed that endangers the safety of persons or property.

(b) Reckless operation. No person shall operate an electric bicycle or motor-driven device in a reckless or unsafe manner that endangers the operator, a passenger, other persons, or property. Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to:

(1) Operating at a speed excessive relative to surrounding pedestrian or vehicular conditions;

(2) Weaving through pedestrian or vehicular traffic in an unsafe manner;

(3) Failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks or to vehicular traffic as required by law; and

(4) Performing stunts, tricks, or acrobatic maneuvers in public areas.

(c) Impairment. No person shall operate an electric bicycle or motor-driven device while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as prohibited by California Vehicle Code section 21200.5.

(d) Brakes. No person shall operate an electric bicycle or motor-driven device without a properly functioning brake as required by California Vehicle Code section 21201.

(e) Lighting. No person shall operate an electric bicycle or motor-driven device during darkness without properly functioning brakes, reflectors, and a lamp or lamp combination emitting a white light visible from a reasonable distance to the front, as required by California Vehicle Code section 21201.

(f) Passengers. No person operating an electric bicycle or motor-driven device shall carry another person unless the device is designed and equipped with a separate attached seat for such passenger.

(Ord. No. 892, § 2, 6-16-26)

Any minor operating or riding as a passenger on an electric bicycle shall wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets applicable safety standards, in compliance with California Vehicle Code sections 21212, 21213, and 21235.

(Ord. No. 892, § 2, 6-16-26)

(a) When a minor is cited for a violation of this chapter, a peace officer may issue a citation as authorized by law.

(b) In addition to any fines or penalties authorized by this chapter, a peace officer may seize any electric bicycle or motor-driven device operated by a minor in accordance with California Vehicle Code section 22651.08. Impound and seizure shall be limited to circumstances permitted under state law, including:

(1) Operation without proper licensure of a motor-driven device that does not meet the definition of an electric bicycle and is capable of being propelled by an electric motor at speeds exceeding twenty (20) miles per hour; or

(2) Operation of a Class 3 electric bicycle, as defined in California Vehicle Code section 312.5(a)(3), in violation of California Vehicle Code section 21213, including operation by a person under sixteen (16) years of age or without a required helmet.

(c) Any electric bicycle or motor-driven device impounded pursuant to this section shall be held for a minimum of forty-eight (48) hours and shall thereafter be released to the owner, violator, or authorized agent during normal business hours upon payment of all applicable fees for removal, seizure, and storage.

(d) All fees applicable to an impounded electric bicycle or motor-driven device shall be established by resolution of the city council, shall not exceed the actual costs incurred by the city, and shall be posted on the city's website in accordance with state law.

(e) The city may, consistent with state law, require a violator of this chapter, or a responsible adult of a minor who has violated this chapter, to complete an electric bicycle safety education or training program as a condition of the release of an impounded device.

(Ord. No. 892, § 2, 6-16-26)

A responsible adult shall not authorize or knowingly permit a minor in their care, custody, or control to operate an electric bicycle or motor-driven device in violation of this chapter. A responsible adult who violates this section shall be subject to the same penalties as the minor operator.

(Ord. No. 892, § 2, 6-16-26)

(a) Violations of this chapter shall be infractions unless otherwise required by state law, and shall be subject to the following bail schedule:

(1) First offense: one hundred dollars ($100.00);

(2) Second violation occurring within one year of the first violation: two hundred dollars ($200.00);

(3) Each subsequent violation occurring within one year of the first violation: five hundred dollars ($500.00).

(b) The city may establish a diversion or education program for first-time minor offenders in lieu of a monetary penalty.

(c) The penalties set forth in this section are in addition to any other remedies available to the city under applicable law.

(Ord. No. 892, § 2, 6-16-26)

(a) This chapter may be enforced by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, which provides law enforcement services to the city pursuant to contract.

(b) Community safety officers and other city staff may enforce nonmoving and administrative provisions of this chapter to the extent authorized by law and by the terms of any relevant memorandum of understanding or agreement between the city and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

(c) Only peace officers, as defined by California Penal Code section 830 et seq., may impound electric bicycles or motor-driven devices pursuant to state law.

(Ord. No. 892, § 2, 6-16-26)

The city manager, or designee, is authorized to adopt administrative rules, procedures, signage standards, and forms necessary to implement and enforce this chapter, including the designation of restricted zones, dismount zones, and permissible operating areas consistent with this chapter and applicable state law. All administrative regulations adopted pursuant to this section shall be consistent with the Lomita Municipal Code and California law.

(Ord. No. 892, § 2, 6-16-26)