MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Champlin Police Warn Parents After Children on Electric Motorcycle Nearly Collide With Highway Traffic

CHAMPLIN, MN (July 23, 2026). Champlin police are asking parents to understand the power and legal classification of electric motorcycles after two children riding together without helmets narrowly avoided being struck by a truck on Highway 169.

The encounter occurred Tuesday morning near Highway 169 and 114th Avenue, according to information released by the Champlin Police Department and reported by FOX 9.

Police said the children were riding together on an electric motorcycle, commonly described as an e-moto, when they crossed illegally in front of approaching traffic.

A truck traveling approximately 55 mph was forced to brake to avoid hitting them. Police said neither child was wearing a helmet.

No collision or injury was reported.

Not every electric cycle is an e-bike

The incident highlights an increasingly important distinction between lower-powered electric bicycles and faster electric motorcycles.

Under the legal standards cited by Champlin police, an electric bicycle with a motor rated below 750 watts may generally be regulated as a bicycle. A machine exceeding that threshold may instead be classified as an electric motorcycle.

Electric motorcycles are not automatically legal for use on streets, sidewalks or bicycle paths.

Police said an operator must be at least 15 years old and possess the licensing, registration and insurance required for the vehicle before operating an e-moto on public roads.

The precise legal requirements can depend on a vehicle’s motor output, maximum speed and equipment. Families should verify a machine’s technical specifications rather than relying on a retailer’s description.

Police direct appeal to parents

Electric motorcycles can resemble ordinary bicycles, but some models can accelerate rapidly and reach speeds that place inexperienced riders in direct conflict with cars and trucks.

Champlin police are asking parents to speak with their children about traffic laws, protective equipment and the places where a particular electric vehicle may legally be operated.

The department’s warning comes as electric cycles become increasingly popular among young riders. The Champlin encounter shows how quickly uncertainty about the rules can become a life-threatening traffic emergency.

The truck driver’s quick response prevented the incident from becoming a potentially fatal collision. Police released the information as a warning rather than announcing citations or arrests involving the children.

Verification status: Verified with attribution. The available direct news report attributes its facts to a Champlin Police Department public statement. The department’s original social-media post was not independently retrievable through its official website during the verification review.

Source

• FOX 9: Champlin police issue e-moto warning after Highway 169 close call

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