Washington County Sheriff's Office deputies spent five hours on June 29, patrolling the Bethany area and Portland Community College's Rock Creek Campus, talking to young e-bike riders and their parents about traffic laws

Some riders got citations for dangerous behavior, according to KOIN 6 News. Most got a conversation.

The enforcement mission came after months of complaints from neighbors about kids on electric and motorized bikes riding erratically. In one incident reported by KOIN 6 News in May, riders threw rocks at a driver's car. The operation also follows the death of 14-year-old Jacob Tran, a Beaverton teen killed June 25 while riding an electric scooter in a marked crosswalk at Southwest Scholls Ferry Road and Southwest Loon Drive.

Corporal David Huey of the Washington County Sheriff's Office said deputies contacted about 40 young riders and parents during the mission. The goal, he said, is education before enforcement.

"The rules are confusing," Huey told KOIN 6 News. "And we want to start with that education piece before we really do move into more the enforcement side… we'd rather educate them first."

Huey acknowledged the response from families has been mixed. Some parents pushed back, he said, noting they'd spent significant money on the bikes. Others in the community thanked deputies for showing up.

What the law says

Oregon passed House Bill 4007, signed into law in March 2026. Most provisions took effect immediately, but the Class 1 minimum-age change takes effect January 1, 2027. Key rules for young riders:

  • Class 1 e-bikes (pedal-assist only, up to 20 mph): Minimum age drops from 16 to 14, effective January 1, 2027.
  • Class 2 e-bikes (throttle-assisted, up to 20 mph) and Class 3 (pedal-assist, up to 28 mph): Minimum age remains 16.
  • Helmets: All riders under 16 must wear one on any e-bike, e-scooter, or powered micromobility device.
  • "Imposter" bikes: Selling a vehicle as an e-bike when it doesn't meet the legal definition is now a specific offense, punishable by up to $250.

E-bikes that exceed Class 1, 2, or 3 specifications are legally classified as motor vehicles under Oregon law and require registration and licensing.

Jacob Tran was wearing a helmet and using a crosswalk when a 16-year-old driver struck him just before 6:30 a.m. on June 25. He was headed to a summer football workout at Mountainside High School, where he would have started as a freshman in the fall. He died at a local hospital.

The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with Beaverton police. The crash remains under investigation, and no charges have been announced.

A memorial of candles, flowers, and photos grew at the corner of SW Scholls Ferry Road and SW Barrows Road, near the crash site, in the days that followed. About a dozen of Tran's friends gathered there on June 27, to pray.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office launched a dedicated e-bike safety campaign in June 2026 titled "Don't Let Your E-Bike Bring You to the ER."

Residents can report dangerous e-bike or motorized bike behavior by calling WCSO non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111, or 911 for emergencies. Anyone with information about the Jacob Tran crash who has not yet spoken with investigators can call the Beaverton Police Department tip line at 503-526-2261.