| Photo by Brelyn Bashrum on Unsplash
NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has ordered 42 online retailers to immediately stop selling illegal, high‑speed motorized devices to New Yorkers, issuing a sweeping cease‑and‑desist directive aimed at curbing deaths and injuries linked to unregulated e‑motos, e‑bikes, and stand‑up scooters. The order, announced Wednesday at City Hall, targets major platforms including Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Temu, Walmart, Wayfair, Segway, and dozens of smaller online sellers.
“These retailers have been selling vehicles that violate New York law and put New Yorkers at risk,” Mamdani said. “The burden of whether or not the bike they buy is safe and legal should not fall on working New Yorkers… It is the responsibility of retailers to only sell the vehicles permissible under New York law.”
Retailers have until August 18 to comply or face fines of up to $2,000 per violation, according to the mayor’s office.
Deadly Crashes Trigger Crackdown
The crackdown follows a series of fatal crashes involving illegal motorized devices. Just last week, a 17‑year‑old boy was killed while riding an illegal e‑bike capable of reaching 30 mph, double the city’s legal limit of 15 mph for e‑bikes and e‑scooters.
Between 2017 and 2025, 45 rider fatalities involved illegal e‑bikes capable of traveling faster than 25 mph — accounting for 54% of all e‑bike rider deaths during that period. Another 14 riders died on stand‑up scooters capable of exceeding 20 mph, representing 52% of all scooter deaths.
City officials say many of the devices sold online are falsely advertised as “e‑bikes” even though they exceed legal speed limits or fail to meet safety standards. “This is not complicated,” Mamdani said. “If they are selling an e‑bike that can go faster than 25, that’s illegal. If they are selling an e‑scooter that goes faster than 20, that’s illegal.”
What Law Covers These Illegal Devices?
New York State legalized e‑bikes in 2020, but only under strict classifications: Class 1 & 2 e‑bikes: Max speed 20 mph, Class 3 e‑bikes: Max speed 25 mph, and Stand‑up e‑scooters: Max speed 20 mph.
Any device exceeding these limits is illegal to sell or operate in New York City.
The city also enforces additional rules under consumer protection and transportation codes, allowing the NYPD to confiscate and impound illegal devices found on city streets. Brick‑and‑mortar stores have already been cited, but until now, online retailers operated in what officials called a “wild‑west marketplace.”
City Council Speaker Julie Menin said the fatalities demand urgent action. “We cannot wait again for tragedy to strike,” she said. “We owe New Yorkers streets that are safer to walk, safer to bike, safer to drive.”
Lithium-Ion Battery Fires Add to the Danger
Beyond crashes, illegal and uncertified devices have contributed to deadly lithium‑ion battery fires. FDNY data shows 800+ fires, 30 deaths, and 400+ injuries in New York City since 2022 linked to lithium‑ion batteries used in e‑bikes and scooters.
In 2023, the city enacted a package of laws banning the sale, lease, or rental of uncertified e‑bikes, e‑scooters, and batteries, further tightening regulations on unsafe devices.
FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker credited safety campaigns for reducing battery‑related deaths from 18 in 2023 to 6 in 2024, but warned that fires “haven’t stopped” and the risks remain high.
Penalties for Non‑Compliance
Retailers who fail to comply with Mamdani’s cease‑and‑desist order face:
Up to $2,000 fines per violation
Possible civil penalties under consumer protection laws
Confiscation of illegal devices shipped into NYC
Referral for further enforcement actions by the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)
“These companies know these vehicles violate the law,” Mamdani said. “They continue to sell them because there is money to be made.”
Lawmakers Push for Broader Regulation
The City Council is preparing to review 17 proposed bills addressing e‑bike and scooter safety, including stricter retailer verification, enhanced consumer warnings, and expanded enforcement authority.
Advocacy groups such as Transportation Alternatives support banning high‑speed devices. “We want safe and calm streets for everyone,” said executive director Ben Furnas.
A Turning Point for Micromobility Safety
The cease‑and‑desist order marks one of the city’s most aggressive actions to date against illegal motorized devices. With fatalities rising and online marketplaces flooded with unsafe products, officials say the crackdown is necessary to protect New Yorkers.
“This is about saving lives,” Mamdani said. “Retailers must follow the law — and New Yorkers deserve safe streets.”
