In America, more and more children get hurt or die when they ride e-bikes.
美國有愈來愈多兒童騎電動自行車時受傷或死亡。
Prosecutors in Orange County, California, brought criminal charges against some parents.
加州橙縣的檢察官對一些家長提出刑事指控。
They want to enforce the law more strongly.
他們要加強執法。
The mayor of New York also sent letters to many online stores.
紐約市長也寄信給多家線上商店。
He asked them to stop selling e-bikes that are not legal.
他要求他們停止賣不合法的電動自行車。
New Jersey says riders must be at least 15 years old.
新澤西州規定騎士必須滿15歲。
Riders also need to get a license and register.
騎士還需要拿到執照和登記。
These measures have caused discussion.
這些措施引起討論。
There is a mother in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her name is Monica Stafford.
舊金山灣區有一位母親,她叫莫妮卡·斯塔福德。
Her daughter fell while riding an e-bike and broke her skull.
她的女兒騎電動自行車時摔傷,頭骨斷了。
She said that if officials blame parents for everything, it 'misses the point.'
她說,如果官員把問題都怪在家長身上,就「沒有切中要害」。
She asks for one set of national rules.
她呼籲制定一套統一的全國性規則。
She said, 'Our legal situation now is very confusing.'
她說:「我們現在的法律狀態非常混亂。」
Studies show that people hurt on e-bikes have worse injuries. This is compared to people on regular bikes.
研究顯示,騎電動自行車受傷的人,傷勢比騎傳統自行車的人更嚴重。
Doctor John Austin from the University of California, San Diego says the hurt people are usually younger and often do not wear helmets.
聖地牙哥加州大學的醫生約翰·奧斯汀博士說,受傷的人通常比較年輕,而且常常沒有戴頭盔。
Federal law treats most e-bikes as non-motor vehicles.
聯邦法律把多數電動自行車當作非機動車輛。
Riders do not need a license or insurance.
騎士不需要執照或保險。
But states have extra rules for high-power models.
但各州對高功率的車款有額外規定。
Orange County prosecutor Todd Spitzer says his office is looking into more than 20 cases. These cases involve children.
橙縣檢察官托德·斯皮策說,他的辦公室正在調查20多起涉及兒童的案件。
They have charged four people.
他們已經起訴了四個人。
The mother of one 14-year-old boy is charged.
其中一個14歲男孩的母親被指控。
Her son rode an electric motorcycle and hit and killed an old walker.
因為她的兒子騎電動摩托車,撞死了一位老年行人。
Another parent is named Richard Eisalen.
另一個家長叫理查德·艾薩倫。
He says he is not guilty of the charge of endangering children.
他對危害兒童的指控不認罪。
He is said to have bought an electric motorcycle for his 12-year-old son. He also changed the bike.
他被指為12歲的兒子買了電動摩托車,還改了車。
Bike supporters say many problem vehicles are actually electric motorcycles.
自行車倡議人士說,很多有問題的車其實是電動摩托車。
But sellers call them electric bicycles.
但賣家把它們說成是電動自行車。
They think low-power electric bicycles are safe.
他們認為低功率的電動自行車是安全的。
They ask to enforce current laws, not add new limits.
他們呼籲執法現有的法律,而不是增加新限制。
Chloe Lawler is the head of the San Diego County Bike League. She says running red lights and not wearing helmets are already illegal.
聖地牙哥縣自行車聯盟的執行董事克洛伊·勞爾說,闖紅燈、不戴頭盔這些行為本來就是違法的。
Parent Sharon Frank thinks that solving the problem starts at home.
家長莎倫·弗蘭克認為,解決問題要從家庭開始。
Parents should do research first, and then ride with their kids.
家長應該先做好研究,然後陪孩子一起騎。
She says, "We want them to have fun. But we also want them to get home safe."
她說:「我們希望他們玩得開心,但我們也希望他們安全回家。」