The Mamdani administration has issued cease-and-desist orders to 42 online retailers accused of illegally selling dangerous motorized devices to New Yorkers across 175 ZIP codes. The enforcement action, announced August 2026, targets sellers of high-speed e-bikes, stand-up e-scooters, and other products that exceed legal limits for operation on city streets.
Under New York City law, motorized stand-up scooters weighing more than 100 pounds or capable of speeds above 20 mph cannot be legally sold or operated. E-bikes with motors larger than 750 watts or top speeds exceeding 25 mph are also prohibited, as are seated mopeds without a valid Vehicle Identification Number. Retailers that continue selling banned devices after receiving a cease-and-desist order face civil penalties of up to $2,000 per illegal sale, and devices found on city streets may be impounded.
The city’s action follows a fatal crash last month involving an illegal device that killed a 17-year-old New Yorker. According to data from the NYC Department of Transportation, 45 rider fatalities between 2017 and 2025 involved illegal e-bikes capable of traveling faster than 25 mph, accounting for 54% of all e-bike rider deaths during that period. Fourteen rider fatalities involved illegal stand-up scooters, representing 52% of all stand-up scooter deaths.
“Every family deserves to know that when their loved ones leave home, they will make it back safely,” Mayor Mamdani said in announcing the orders. “Since 2017, more than 45 people have been killed while riding illegal e-bikes, including the young New Yorker whose life was cut short last week.”
NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn said the proliferation of faster, heavier illegal e-mobility devices is an alarming trend. “While legal e-mobility remains a great option to get around the city, faster illegal e-bikes and scooters are dangerous for everyone who shares our streets,” Flynn said.
New York Attorney General Letitia James issued an advisory to businesses and consumers statewide about the illegal vehicles, noting that sellers are “fueling a tragic rise in injuries and fatal accidents.” The Worker’s Justice Project, which represents delivery workers, applauded the enforcement, noting that many workers are forced to navigate a confusing marketplace where illegal, unsafe vehicles are often the most accessible and affordable option.
The enforcement comes as the Mamdani administration reports historic lows in pedestrian fatalities during the first half of 2026, with DOT continuing to redesign streets using safety measures in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan. Recent projects include improvements along Tremont and Bailey avenues in the Bronx, McGuinness Boulevard and the area surrounding Wingate Park in Brooklyn, 31st Avenue and 31st Street in Queens, and Sixth and Ninth avenues in Manhattan.
The crackdown also highlights the tension between safety regulation and the economic realities facing the city’s gig economy workforce. Many delivery workers rely on e-bikes and mopeds to earn a living in what labor advocates describe as one of the most exploitative jobs in New York City. With limited support from the app companies they work for, workers often navigate a marketplace where illegal, unsafe vehicles are sometimes the most accessible and affordable option. The city has said it will continue working with worker organizations to ensure that safety enforcement does not disproportionately penalize the workers themselves, but rather targets the retailers and manufacturers who supply illegal devices.
Sources: NYC Mayor’s Office, Bloomberg
