Excerpts from 46.04 RCW (Revised Code of Washington)
"Electric-assisted bicycle means a bicycle
with two or three wheels, a saddle, fully operative pedals for
human propulsion, and an electric motor. The electric-assisted
bicycle's electric motor must have a power output of no more
than one thousand Watts, be incapable of propelling the device
at a speed of no more than twenty miles per hour on level
ground, and incapable of further increasing the speed of the
device when human power alone is used to propel the device
beyond twenty miles per hour."
"No driver's licence is required for
operation of an electric-assisted bicycle."
"Persons under sixteen years of age may
not operate an electric-assisted bicycle."
The provisions (RCW 46.16.010) relating to
"a current and proper vehicle licence and display vehicle
licence number plates.... shall not apply to (a)
Electric-assisted bicycles."
"Persons operating electric-assisted
bicycles shall comply with all laws and regulations related to
the use of bicycle helmets."
"Operation of a moped or an
electric-assisted bicycle on a fully controlled limited access
highway or a sidewalk is unlawful."
"Electric-assisted bicycles may be
operated on a multipurpose trail or bicycle lane, but local
jurisdictions may restrict or otherwise limit the access of
electric-assisted bicycles."
The new federal law is similar to
Washington state law. It restricts power to 750 Watts.
California: Exerpts from "Section 406 of the
Vehicle Code"
"(b) A 'motorized bicycle' is also a
device that has fully operative pedals for propulsion by human
power and has an electric motor that meets all of the following
requirements:
- Has a power output of not more that
1,000 Watts.
- Is incapable of propelling the device
at a speed of more than 20 miles per hour on ground level.
- Is incapable of further increasing
the speed of the device when human power is used to propel
the motorized bicycle faster than 20 miles per hour."
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