Bellingham Police Department

New E-Bike law took effect on June 11th in Washington State.

We want to share some important information with parents and riders about the new laws which took effect on June 11, 2026. The new law keeps the three classes of e-bikes, but makes a clear distinction between e-bikes and the higher powered electric motorcycles. These e-motorcycles may require registration, a licensed rider, and a motorcycle endorsement.

It is important for parents to understand the differences between e-bikes and the e-motorcycles and to review the rules of the road. Kids under the age of 16 are not permitted to ride e-motorcycles on city streets. Those over 16 years of age need to have their motorcycles registered, be licensed and have a motorcycle endorsement.

In addition to the e-motorcycles, riders under 16 cannot ride a Class 3 e-bike. Parents please ensure you have conversations with your kids and abide by the new law. Our officers will be making stops and educating young riders for a period of time before beginning to issue infractions. Please also know that the e-motorcycles are not permitted in our city parks on the pump tracks.

For more information please see the following resources:

E-bike guide: https://wtsc.wa.gov/erideguide/
SB 6110 Legislative Summary: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=6110&Year=2025

**Note the QR code on the flyer is not working, see the E-bike Guide link.

The week of May 4th, Police Service Dog (PSD) Vuko, Explosive Detection Canine (EDC) Raven, and their handlers, K-9 Officers Lyons and Horton attended the 3-day Washington State Police K9 Association (WSPCA) Seminar hosted by Pierce County Metro K9 and Tacoma Police Department in Puyallup, WA. Numerous K9 teams and trainers from around the state attended, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge in both patrol and detection disciplines.

During the three day seminar the teams participated in numerous scenarios/trainings to include building searches, area searches, tracking, and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) integration. The teams had to work through many scenarios which included noise from explosions, gunfire, less lethal tools and noise/flash diversionary devices (NFDD.) PSD Vuko was expected to perform apprehensions and other patrol work all while exposed to the noise and distractions.

The photos of PSD Vuko were taken during a scenario where they performed a vehicle extraction, immediately followed by a track into a heavily wooded area. As you can see by the photo, PSD Vuko found the decoy, high up in a tree and was letting K-9 Officer Lyons know with his bark. He got his favorite toy as a reward for a job well done, and as you can see he is quite pleased with himself.

EDC Raven participated in different scenarios involving the detection of explosives, fi****ms, and gunpowder residue.

To learn more about the WSPCA, visit: https://www.wspca.com/

Photo credit: Rich Scanliffe, Pierce County Sheriff's Office

Some events from the last six days -

On May 7th BPD employees were honored to walk with members of Lummi Nation for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People (MMIWP) Awareness Walk. We were greeted and welcomed by members of Lummi Victims of Crime and Lummi Indian Business Council Chairman Tony Hillaire and Vice-Chairman Terrance Adams. For more information, visit https://www.atg.wa.gov/washington-state-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-women-and-people-task-force

On May 8th, K-9 Rudy and his handler were asked to assist Ferndale Police Department - Washington, Lummi Nation Police Department, and the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office in the capture of a murder suspect. Both K-9 Rudy and K-9 Echo (Lummi Nation PD) were used to capture this individual and locate a firearm as evidence. Well done, K-9's!

Also on May 8th, our patrol division, with the assistance of Washington State Patrol, WSDOT, Bellingham Fire Department, Bellingham Parks and Recreation, and Bellingham Public Works, were able to assist a person in crisis on Sunset Drive. Though this incident closed the freeway, we are relieved to report the person is receiving the assistance they need.

This week is National Police Week, where all law enforcement agencies in the United States take a moment to pause and remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. All those we lost in 2025 will have their names read during the candlelight vigil in Washington DC on Wednesday.

BPD Patrol responded to a serious assault on Harbor Loop in the early morning of May 11th. They responded so fast, the suspect was still on scene and was taken into custody immediately. The victim of the vicious assault was taken to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center for further treatment. The offender went to jail.

On May 12th a BPD Bike Officer was looking for a person who had probable cause for possession of stolen property (stolen bike) and found him - with another stolen bike and 20 grams of methamphetamine. He went to jail, with more charges pending.

All in a weeks work, a community walk, helping in a crisis, finding a murder suspect, arresting a bike thief and drug dealer, to mourning our fallen.