Southington Police Department releases dashcam footage showing increase in illegal e-bike riding

Connecticut law requires all kids to wear helmets and does not allow children and teenagers under the age of 16 to ride an e-bike that goes faster than 20 mph.

SOUTHINGTON, Conn. — Southington police say there has been a dangerous increase in young people illegally riding e-bikes and other vehicles.

They say an officer was hurt in one incident, another was injured in New Haven, and a child was killed while riding a moped.

“I see a lot of these take up entire lanes of the road,” Josh Brilla, of Southington, said. “It’s to the point where I see traffic slowing down and [I’m] waiting for them to move to the side, or swerving by them altogether.”

New dashcam footage from Southington Police shows recent incidents involving e-bikes.

One from March 30 shows a child already down in the road, and when the officer approaches the kid and his bike, it goes flying. The officer then grabs and shoves the child.

In another incident, in July 2025, an officer comes across a long line of kids on e-bikes. He tries to stop them, and has to restrain one young person while another takes off.

“It was surprising that some of the kids thought it was appropriate to run away from the police,” Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington Executive Director Joanne Kelleher said.

Kelleher and the state-funded collaborative work to improve childhood learning, health and safety. She says even out her office window, she has seen the danger of e-bikes.

“I see kids out in the parking lot out back, coming down the street, crossing across Main Street without looking, doing wheelies in the Apple Alley,” Kelleher said. “Anybody who’s driven through town has seen this.”

Robin Trujillo, of Southington, thinks both kids and parents need to hear out police on this issue; she wants kids to be able to have fun but also stay safe.

“There’s a lot of kids that will respect the uniform and respect police,” Trujillo said. “They should have a good sit down with the children to make sure they do stay safe, and probably the parents as well.”

A state law went into effect last October requiring all kids to wear helmets while riding bikes, skateboards, scooters and rollerblades. It also does not allow any kids under the age of 16 from riding an e-bike that goes faster than 20 mph.

“I’d say it’s fair for them to have e-bikes and stuff like that,” Ian Fisher, of Southington, said. “Helmets are admittedly important.”

Kelleher says it is up to parents to make sure their kids have the right helmet and type of bike; otherwise they are only helping them to break the law.

“These young people are not buying e-bikes themselves most likely,” she said. “So. it’s got to start with the parents and whoever is purchasing the e-bikes for them to make sure they meet the law.”

Southington Police were not available for an interview on Tuesday.

Tim Littau is a Multi-Skilled Journalist at FOX61 News. He can be reached at tlittau@fox61.com

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