The Burke-Gilman Trail has its first dedicated enforcement patrol.

Two King County Sheriff's deputies began riding bicycles on the 27-mile trail Thursday, July 9, pulling over riders on mopeds, ATVs, and electric motorcycles that are now banned under a Washington state law that took effect June 11.

The patrols also cover the East Lake Sammamish and Sammamish River trails.

The crackdown comes one day after a 14-year-old boy died at the I-5 Colonnade mountain bike park in Eastlake after crashing an e-moto down steep stairs on July 8.

Seattle police spokesperson Brian Pritchard said the boy was wearing a bicycle helmet but should have been wearing a motorcycle helmet given the vehicle he was riding.

King County Parks Director Warren Jimenez said the campaign will start with education and warnings. Only adults will receive citations if behavior doesn't change.

Fines start at $52 for speeds of 16 to 25 mph and jump to $125 for 26 mph and over, or for speeds deputies consider too fast for conditions.

"We see this as an opportunity to build awareness on this important issue and keep our commitments to keep our trails safe and accessible for all," Jimenez said.

Washington's new law (ESSB 6110) draws a hard line. An e-bike must have fully functional pedals and a motor rated at 750 watts or less, meeting Class 1, 2, or 3 standards.

Anything that exceeds 28 mph, or uses a throttle above 20 mph, is classified as a motorcycle requiring a driver's license, endorsement, and registration.

E-motos often lack pedals entirely and can reach 50 mph. King County approved e-bike use on its 185 miles of trails in 2024 with a 15 mph speed limit. The new state law gives deputies a legal framework to distinguish between a commuter on a pedal-assist bike and a teenager on a throttle-powered machine.

About 41% of all emergency room visits for e-bike injuries in 2024 involved patients ages 10 to 19, according to National Electronic Injury Surveillance System estimates. U.S. e-bike sales have more than quadrupled since 2019.

Lee Lambert, executive director of Cascade Bicycle Club and its lobbying arm WA Bikes, helped push lawmakers to adopt the new classification law.

Lambert said some parents buy e-motos thinking they're e-bikes, then discover their kids are hitting 40 mph. WA Bikes is working with the state on recommendations for the 2027 legislative session about sanctions for rule violations and whether parents should be financially responsible for minors riding e-motos.

Lambert cautioned that deputies should focus on dangerous behavior, not just vehicle type.

King County has not announced a timeline for transitioning from warnings to citations. For the thousands of Seattle residents who commute, run, or ride with their families on the Burke-Gilman through Ballard, Fremont, and the University District, the patrols represent the first visible enforcement presence on a trail that has grown increasingly crowded with fast, heavy vehicles.