Montgomery County police officers warn they are cracking down on teens recklessly riding dirt and e-bikes in the Bethesda central business district.
Officers said they have received “multiple complaints about teens driving at high rates of speed on roads and sidewalks, running red lights, driving on the wrong side of the road, and ignoring traffic laws,” in a Thursday statement.
In some cases, the riders have blocked traffic and tried to get officers to chase them, according to police. When officers attempt traffic stops, the riders speed away, they noted.
During a Wednesday incident at around 6 p.m., officers were called to the area of Arlington Road and Bethesda Avenue in response to calls about juveniles on dirt bikes “nearly hitting pedestrians and cars.”
Upon arrival, the officers said they saw a group riding dirt bikes and e-bikes, along with a plume of smoke filling Elm Street. When an officer walked toward the group and another officer was in an unmarked cruiser, the riders “took off toward Elm Street at a high rate of speed,” police said.
Then, one participant headed back toward the police. An officer “removed the teen from the dirt bike and attempted to take him into custody. Additional officers responded to assist,” police said.
The teen, a 13-year-old boy, resisted arrest and shouted racial epithets at officers, according to police. He was eventually placed in handcuffs, transported to the 2nd District station, charged, processed and released to his mother.
The juvenile was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, driving without a license, driving an unregistered motor vehicle, reckless and negligent driving and failure to obey traffic control devices.
His dirt bike was confiscated and towed.
Officers are advising the public that electric dirt bikes must be licensed, registered and equipped with safety equipment to be operated on public roadways, according to Maryland law. The teen who was charged was below the age limit required for a Maryland driver’s license, and the dirt bike he rode was not registered.
Any vehicle with an engine of more than 50CC, typically a moped or scooter, must be registered, and its operator must be licensed.
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