The Washington County Sheriff's Office is actively investigating a report of teens on e-motorcycles shooting fireworks and popping wheelies after dark in the Bethany area, one of two tips received in the first week of the agency's new online reporting tool for reckless e-bike and e-scooter riders.

The tip line launched last week and had received two reports this week, according to sheriff's office records. The first tip was determined to fall outside the sheriff's jurisdiction. The second, describing a group of teens riding e-motorcycles recklessly in Bethany after dark, triggered an active investigation.

Tips submitted through the online form go directly to a Washington County Sheriff's Office traffic sergeant, who decides how to respond.

E-motorcycles vs. e-bikes

The Bethany report specifically describes e-motorcycles, which are regulated differently from standard e-bikes under Oregon law. E-motorcycles require a license, registration, and insurance. Standard Class 1 through Class 3 e-bikes do not. It's unclear whether the vehicles in question were registered, as Oregon law requires for e-motorcycles.

Bethany is unincorporated, which is why the sheriff's office handles law enforcement there rather than a city police department. The same applies to other unincorporated parts of Washington County, including portions of Bull Mountain.

Part of a broader safety push

The sheriff's office created the tip line in response to rising complaints about e-bikes and e-scooters, though the agency has not released a specific count of prior complaints. The agency featured e-bike safety tips in its June 2026 newsletter before launching the reporting tool in July.

Nationally, about 41% of emergency room visits for e-bike injuries in 2024 and 2025 involved patients ages 10 to 19, according to National Electronic Injury Surveillance System estimates reported by Axios.

How to report

Residents who witness reckless e-bike or e-scooter riding in unincorporated Washington County can file a report through the sheriff's online tip line at washingtoncountyor.gov/sheriff. For emergencies or crimes in progress, call 911. Residents within Tigard or Tualatin city limits should contact their local police departments for incidents in those jurisdictions.