New York Bill Would Ban High-Speed E-Moto Sales
Shoppers buying electric two-wheelers in New York should check speed and registration before any purchase.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
New York lawmakers introduced Senate Bill S.10700 to ban the sale of e-motos, high-speed electric two-wheelers that can exceed 50 mph, to buyers in New York. The bill follows a fatal head-on collision on the Queensboro Bridge bike path involving an illegal high-speed electric vehicle.
Why it matters
For New York households, the bill would close the retail channel for high-speed electric two-wheelers, which lawmakers say are being sold as e-bikes and ridden where they are not legal. Supporters argue the problem has to be stopped at the point of sale rather than on the street after a crash.
Senate Bill S.10700 would ban sales of e-motos, which are defined as electric two-wheelers over 20 mph that are not registered with the DMV and do not qualify as standard e-bikes or e-scooters. The proposed civil penalty is up to $1,000 per violation, and the bill would explicitly bar marketing 40 or 50 mph electric motorcycles as e-bikes.
The players
State Senator Kristen Gonzalez
A New York state senator who co-introduced Senate Bill S.10700 to restrict high-speed e-moto sales.
Assemblymember Diana Moreno
A New York state assemblymember who co-introduced Senate Bill S.10700 alongside Senator Gonzalez.
The details
The bill would ban both online and brick-and-mortar retailers from selling e-motos to New York buyers. Sellers would be required to post clear warnings that e-motos cannot legally be ridden on public roads, bike lanes, or sidewalks in the state. The collision on the Queensboro Bridge bike path involved an illegal high-speed electric vehicle traveling in a narrow pedestrian and cyclist lane that struck a conventional bicycle.
Timeline
2026: California, Illinois, and New Jersey introduced or passed similar legislation.
- 2026-11-04
Senate Bill S.10700 was introduced by New York lawmakers.
The Home Front
New York's proposal sits alongside 2026 measures in California, Illinois, and New Jersey that target the same electric two-wheeler sales channel. Together these efforts shift the regulatory focus from street enforcement toward restricting what retailers can sell to households.
If you are shopping for an electric two-wheeler, check whether the listing describes the vehicle as an e-bike and confirm its top speed and DMV registration status before buying. Keep your purchase records on file, since the bill would require sellers to post warnings about where e-motos can legally be ridden.
The takeaway
A high-speed electric two-wheeler sold as an e-bike may not be legal to ride on New York streets, bike lanes, or sidewalks, so check its speed rating and registration before purchase. Keep the seller's posted warnings and your receipt together if you buy one for a family member.
Further reading
For context on how these fast two-wheelers fit into the broader market, see Electric Vehicles coverage in our automotive section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WIBX 950.
