Orange County Charges Parents Over Illegal E Motorcycle Riding

Authorities in Orange County, California, are pursuing criminal charges against parents accused of allowing their children to ride electric motorcycles illegally, following serious crashes, dangerous encounters with police, and the death of a 13-year-old boy. District Attorney Todd Spitzer announced additional charges on Wednesday, October 21, as his office reported that at least 12 parents had faced charges since January.

The cases include an 11-year-old injured in a collision with a pickup truck, a 9-year-old struck while riding at high speed, and several teenagers accused of reckless riding or fleeing police. Prosecutors say the cases demonstrate the risks of allowing children to operate powerful electric motorcycles on public roads.

According to the Orange County District Attorney's Office, Alex Li faces a misdemeanor child endangerment charge after his 11-year-old son collided with a pickup truck in Yorba Linda in June. The child suffered broken bones and an aortic bleed while riding an electric motorcycle equipped with a 1,200-watt motor, exceeding the 750-watt limit for an electric bicycle.

Maria Dolores Roehling faces felony child endangerment and an infraction for allegedly allowing an unlicensed minor to operate a motor vehicle. Prosecutors said her 9-year-old son was riding an electric motorcycle capable of exceeding 47 mph when a pickup truck struck him. They also cited social media videos showing the child performing wheelies on residential streets and a post about an earlier crash.

The charges also involve Dan Rezmives, whose 12-year-old son was allegedly seen riding a Surron Light Bee electric motorcycle on a public street despite previous warnings from police. Rezmives faces misdemeanor charges of child endangerment and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, along with an infraction for allegedly allowing an unlicensed child to drive a motor vehicle.

Hulin Guo and Xiaomin Wang each face misdemeanor charges and an infraction following incidents involving their 17-year-old son. Prosecutors allege that the teenager led Newport Beach police on a pursuit in May, traveling above 40 mph, weaving around pedestrians on sidewalks, and driving against traffic. Authorities also cited two earlier encounters in which officers warned the family about dangerous riding, including an incident involving wheelies on Halloween 2024. The teenager's electric motorcycles were impounded twice, according to prosecutors.

Another case concerns Jose De Jesus Ramirezbarragan, who was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor after allegedly allowing his 15-year-old brother to ride an electric motorcycle. Prosecutors said the teenager ignored police commands, reached 40 mph, ran red lights, nearly collided with several vehicles, and eventually lost control and crashed into bushes.

The wider enforcement effort follows the death of Benson Nguyen, a 13-year-old who crashed his electric motorcycle into a concrete light pole in Garden Grove on May 7. Police said he had been traveling at approximately 43 mph. His parents, Vu Thanh Nguyen and Hong Cuc Thi Nguyen, were charged with child endangerment. Prosecutors also cited an earlier crash in which Benson broke his leg and alleged that he continued riding recklessly before the fatal collision.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said the prosecution aims to prevent further injuries and deaths among young riders.

"We don't want to have to prosecute parents -- we want to save kids' lives," Spitzer said in a statement.

He said prosecutors would pursue cases when parents allegedly failed to prevent their children from engaging in dangerous and unlawful riding. Spitzer also told CBS News that holding adults accountable was necessary to discourage similar conduct.

"I need to send a message in order to save other kids' lives and to make sure other parents are taking responsibility for their children," Spitzer told CBS News.

The district attorney's office said electric bicycle and electric motorcycle injuries have become the leading reason children in Orange County visit emergency rooms. It also reported that such injuries across Southern California increased by more than 430% over four years. Separate figures cited by the office attributed more than 125 deaths and tens of thousands of injuries across the United States to electric bicycles and electric motorcycles.

California prohibits children under 16 from riding electric motorcycles, according to the reports. Unlike conventional electric bicycles, which have pedals and motors limited to 750 watts, electric motorcycles generally require a motorcycle license, Department of Motor Vehicles registration, a license plate, insurance, and appropriate protective equipment for road use. They may be operated without a license on private property or designated off-road vehicle areas.

The district attorney's office also cited state traffic records indicating that children ages 11 to 14 account for 61.7% of electric motorcycle crashes, despite the age restriction. The pending cases involve allegations that have not been established as convictions.