Louisiana ebike laws....

Rob Bay

Member
Is there one place to find all the legal information about e bike classification in this state? Is it an e bike, moped, motorized bike or ? I keep hearing conflicting information. My consensus was that if it's max speed was 25mph you are OK. I regularly have non-motorized competition bikes pass me up when I'm doing 20-25. Any definitive legislation in black and white from the state that says you need a driver's license and a registration? How do you register an e bike with the DMV. They will either laugh at you or tell you it's just illegal. One more reason to dislike this state.
 
I checked my law motorized bicycle data base that covers both e and ICE and there are no regulations on record that I can find for Louisiana. That being the case you should defer to the Federal regulations, 750w, 20mph. No need for the DMV, license, if DUI involved that may complicate matters or insurance ride responsibly and you should be fine.
 
Is there one place to find all the legal information about e bike classification in this state? Is it an e bike, moped, motorized bike or ? I keep hearing conflicting information. My consensus was that if it's max speed was 25mph you are OK. I regularly have non-motorized competition bikes pass me up when I'm doing 20-25. Any definitive legislation in black and white from the state that says you need a driver's license and a registration? How do you register an e bike with the DMV. They will either laugh at you or tell you it's just illegal. One more reason to dislike this state.
Louisiana hasn't updated it's motorized bicycle laws (with "helper motor") since, I think, 2005. You aren't the first person here to ask the question. In my opinion LA law is such that it almost forces ebike owners to break the law.

This is what People for Bikes tells the public.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...Vaw1__7bHhly7GrC5W4ANviHb&cshid=1549599473951

This from the Dept. of Motor Vehicles.

http://web01.dps.louisiana.gov/omv1...680299f3eb8beb3a862564ba00581b93?OpenDocument

The good:

• Speed 25 mph
• 1-1/2 horsepower (~1125 watts) gas or electric.

The bad, or difficult is the part about registration.

The laws need updating.
 
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I checked my law motorized bicycle data base that covers both e and ICE and there are no regulations on record that I can find for Louisiana. That being the case you should defer to the Federal regulations, 750w, 20mph. No need for the DMV, license, if DUI involved that may complicate matters or insurance ride responsibly and you should be fine.

Thanks for your reply and the great info J.R. Seems like everywhere is getting to be more regulated now with the influx of e-bikes. I live a the suburb 30K residents plus and I'm probably the only person for many miles who e-bikes to work regularly every day. Live PD will be in town this weekend whoohoo :/.
 
PFBs has this on their website:
“Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicles does not recognize e-bikes as vehicles with these requirements and has no system
for supplying licensing and registration. Therefore, riding an electric bicycle in Louisiana is illegal.”


Wondering if there’s been any movement in Louisiana’s ebike laws over the past year especially since ebike rentals are gaining some popularity here?
 
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