On Friday, 14 November, at around 7:50 p.m., a patrol signaled an electric bicycle (fatbike) to stop while it was traveling on Bulevar Gobernador N. Debrot. The bicycle was moving at a noticeably high speed, prompting officers to conduct a check. During the inspection, it turned out that the rider was a minor. The bicycle was taken to the police station, where a roller test was used to determine the maximum speed the vehicle could reach.
The measurement revealed that the electric bicycle exceeded 30 km/h. This means that, under the law, the vehicle is classified as a moped. For a moped, a license plate and insurance are mandatory, and the rider must hold a driver’s license or moped permit and wear a helmet.
Since these requirements were not met, the rider was fined and the electric bicycle was seized. Because the rider is a minor, his parents have been invited for a meeting at the police station.
Warning:
Under the law, an electric bicycle (e-bike or fatbike) is only considered a bicycle if the pedal assistance stops at 25 km/h and the vehicle has no throttle. If the vehicle exceeds this speed with assistance or is equipped with a throttle, it falls under the category of mopeds.
This means the rider is required to:
– have a driver’s license (moped permit or category B license),
– wear a helmet,
– register the vehicle with a license plate,
– and have the vehicle insured.
If an electric vehicle does not meet these legal requirements, it is prohibited to use it on public roads. In such cases, the police may issue a fine, a warning, or, in more serious situations, seize the vehicle.
Press release: Korps Politie Caribisch Nederland