Related videos:
The governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, vetoed the SB 382 bill on Friday, a safety initiative for electric bicycles that had been unanimously approved by both chambers of the state Legislature, marking his first veto of legislation passed in 2026, reported Telemundo 51.
The project, known as the "Micromobility Device," established a speed limit of 10 miles per hour for electric bicycle riders traveling within 50 feet of a pedestrian.
Those who violated the regulation would have faced fines exceeding 100 dollars, categorized as traffic offenses not related to the movement of the vehicle.
DeSantis justified his decision by arguing that the measure opened the door to greater government surveillance of citizens.
“We don’t need to create a system where people using electric bicycles are constantly monitored,” the governor stated when explaining his veto.
In his official letter, DeSantis warned that enforcing the speed limit "would inevitably require speed detection and surveillance devices, leading to increased monitoring of individuals by law enforcement."
The project also required law enforcement agencies to collect data on accidents involving these vehicles—including the age of the driver, the type of bicycle, and the date of the incident—and established a specialized task force linked to the Department of Road Safety, with representatives from sheriffs, police chiefs, the industry, cities, counties, the medical sector, and cycling organizations. This group was to present a report in October 2026 and then disband.
That very combination—studying the problem while imposing simultaneous restrictions—was another of the governor's arguments for rejecting the initiative.
"If the goal was to analyze the issue, the commission should first do its work before imposing new regulations," DeSantis noted.
The veto surprised lawmakers and road safety advocates, given the unanimous bipartisan support that the proposal had received: the Senate approved it on February 25 and the House did so on March 9.
The decision comes at a time of increasing concern over bicycle and electric scooter accidents in Florida, many of which involve minors.
In recent weeks, several serious incidents have been reported: a 17-year-old teenager was hospitalized after colliding with a car in West Palm Beach; two brothers, aged 15 and eight, were injured when their scooter crashed into a vehicle in Port St. Lucie; in Wellington, two young people were airlifted after losing control of an electric bicycle and hitting another minor; and in Jupiter, the death of a high school student in an accident involving an e-bike spurred community meetings to discuss safety measures.
Nationwide, emergency room visits due to micromobility accidents increased from 34,000 in 2017 to 93,100 in 2022, and those under 14 years old accounted for 36% of the injuries. Florida ranks among the five states with the highest number of such accidents in the country.
With the veto, the state regulations for electric bicycles remain unchanged: no license, registration, or insurance is required; individuals under 16 must wear a helmet; and only those 16 years and older are permitted to operate a class 3 e-bike, which can reach speeds of up to 28 miles per hour.
Along with SB 382, DeSantis also rejected two other bills approved by the Legislature, while promulgating another 15 measures, including the designation of sections of road in Miami-Dade and Broward with the names of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and President Donald Trump, respectively.
Filed under: