California prosecutors are going after parents who allow their children to ride powerful electric motorcycles illegally on public streets. Twelve parents have faced criminal charges in Orange County since January, including a couple whose 13-year-old son died in a high-speed crash.
The crackdown comes as electric motorcycles, often called E-Motos, become increasingly popular with young riders. Unlike ordinary electric bicycles, some of these machines can travel faster than 60 mph. Many require a motorcycle license, registration, and insurance to operate legally on public roads.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office announced charges against six additional parents on October 21. The cases involve children as young as 9, serious crashes, repeated police warnings, and teenagers leading officers on dangerous pursuits.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer says parents who knowingly allow their children to ride illegal electric motorcycles can face criminal consequences. In an October 23 report, CBS Mornings examined the growing problem and spoke with families whose children had been seriously injured.
Parents Face Charges
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One of the most serious cases involves 13-year-old Benson Nguyen, who died in Garden Grove on May 7, 2026. According to an October 20 announcement from prosecutors, Benson had been speeding, running red lights, and performing wheelies before crashing into a raised center divider on Magnolia Street near Larson Avenue.
The crash threw him from his E-Ride Pro SS 2.0 electric motorcycle and into a concrete light pole. He was taken to UCI Medical Center, where he died. Data from his Life360 app showed he was traveling 43 mph when he lost control.
Prosecutors say Benson’s father, Vu Thanh Nguyen, bought a faster, more powerful E-Moto despite warnings about his son’s riding habits. The teenager had previously suffered several injuries, including a broken leg six months before his death.
Vu Nguyen, 56, faces felony child endangerment and misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor charges. He could receive up to six years in state prison if convicted on all counts. Benson’s mother, Hong Cuc Thi Nguyen, 49, faces misdemeanor child endangerment and up to one year in county jail if convicted.
Children Seriously Injured
The other cases show how quickly these electric motorcycles can become dangerous.
On June 30, an 11-year-old boy in Yorba Linda collided with a pickup truck while riding an E-Moto capable of exceeding 33 mph. He suffered broken bones and an arterial bleed. His father, Alex Li, has been charged with misdemeanor child endangerment.
In another Yorba Linda incident, a 9-year-old boy was riding an electric motorcycle capable of traveling more than 47 mph when a pickup truck struck him on May 23. Prosecutors say videos on the child’s Instagram accounts showed him performing wheelies on residential streets. He had also posted about an earlier crash.
His mother, Maria Dolores Roehling, faces felony child endangerment and an infraction for allowing a minor to drive without a license. She could receive up to six years in state prison if convicted on all counts.
Another father, Dan Mircea Rezmives, faces charges after an Orange police officer spotted his 12-year-old riding a Surron Light Bee on a public street. Prosecutors say the father had previously been warned that his son could not legally ride the motorcycle on city streets.
Police Pursuits
Other cases involve teenagers attempting to escape police.
On May 9, a 17-year-old riding a Surron electric motorcycle allegedly fled Newport Beach police at speeds exceeding 40 mph. Prosecutors say he rode around pedestrians on sidewalks and traveled against traffic. His parents, Hulin Guo and Xiaomin Wang, reportedly received repeated warnings, and their son’s motorcycles were impounded at least twice.
In Garden Grove, another 13-year-old allegedly led police on a pursuit on April 8, running red lights and traveling against traffic at speeds reaching 40 mph. The chase ended when the boy crashed his Surron into a police vehicle while attempting to escape. His father, Tuan Nguyen, has been charged with misdemeanor child endangerment.
Prosecutors have also charged a 33-year-old man with contributing to the delinquency of a minor after his 15-year-old brother allegedly fled La Palma police on an electric motorcycle.
Not Ordinary E-Bikes
California law treats electric bicycles and electric motorcycles differently, even though the vehicles can look similar.
Under California’s electric bicycle classifications, qualifying E-Bikes have functioning pedals and motors rated at no more than 750 watts. Class 3 electric bicycles require riders to be at least 16 years old, while Class 1 and Class 2 E-Bikes do not have a statewide minimum rider age.
The faster electric motorcycles involved in these prosecutions do not qualify as ordinary E-Bikes. Depending on their classification, legal street operation may require a driver’s license with the proper motorcycle endorsement, DMV registration, insurance, and equipment that meets motorcycle requirements.
Benson’s E-Ride Pro SS 2.0, for example, could reach 40 mph in Eco mode and 62 mph in Sport mode, according to prosecutors. The DA’s office says the machine was classified as a motor-driven cycle or motorcycle, making it illegal for the unlicensed 13-year-old to operate on public streets.
Injuries Keep Rising
The Orange County DA’s office says E-Bike and E-Moto injuries have risen more than 430% across Southern California over the past four years. It also reports that riders ages 11 through 14 account for 61.7% of E-Moto crashes recorded in California’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System.
CBS Mornings interviewed Pennsylvania mother Jenny Perinelo, whose son Hunter fractured five vertebrae in an electric motorcycle crash. He credited his helmet with protecting his head when he struck the ground.
The district attorney’s office created its RIDE SAFELY unit in May 2026 to review potential criminal charges against minors and adults, including parents who knowingly permit illegal riding.
The office has also filed involuntary manslaughter charges against a mother whose 14-year-old son struck and killed an 81-year-old Vietnam veteran in Lake Forest while illegally riding an E-Moto. Prosecutors say the mother had received repeated warnings about the vehicle and her potential criminal liability. She faces up to seven years and eight months in prison if convicted.
Spitzer says his office’s goal is to prevent more children and other road users from being seriously injured or killed. The district attorney’s crackdown includes prosecution, education, proposed legislation, and efforts to hold manufacturers and retailers accountable.