Oviedo police are defending their decision to stop and fingerprint an 11-year-old boy who was riding an electric dirt bike on a roadway while heading to a nearby fishing spot.
Newly released body camera footage shows officers stopping the boy, Cade, on Labor Day. Police issued him a uniform traffic citation and scheduled a court hearing.
Cade’s father, Chris Kirchner, has criticized the encounter, calling the police response an “absurd” overreach.
Quick Guide
- Location: Oviedo, Florida
- Person involved: 11-year-old boy identified as Cade
- Vehicle: 4,500-watt electric motorcycle/e-dirt bike
- Reported speed: About 50 mph, according to police
- Reason for trip: Cade said he was going fishing
- Police action: Traffic citation and vehicle tow
- Additional action shown: Fingerprinting
- Court hearing: Tuesday morning
- Police position: The vehicle required motorcycle registration and licensing
- Father’s position: He considers the police response an excessive use of authority
Why Police Stopped the Boy
According to Oviedo police, Cade was riding a 4,500-watt electric motorcycle capable of reaching about 50 mph when officers stopped him.
Cade told officers he was heading to a nearby fishing location and wanted to get there faster.
In the body camera footage, an officer asked Cade why he was riding the electric motorcycle even though he knew he was not supposed to operate it on the roadway.
“I was hoping to get to the place a little bit faster,” Cade responded.
The footage also shows an officer fingerprinting Cade and telling him that the electric motorcycle would be towed.
Police Say the Vehicle Was Not Street Legal
Oviedo police said the vehicle was an unregistered motor vehicle that did not have insurance. Officers also said Cade did not have the motorcycle endorsement required to operate that type of vehicle and was not wearing the required eye protection.
Police described the vehicle as a 4,500-watt electric motorcycle without pedals.
According to the department, the vehicle would have to be registered and comply with applicable U.S. Department of Transportation requirements for motorcycles before it could legally be operated on the roadway. Police also said the rider would need a driver’s license with a motorcycle endorsement.
The department said officers identified several violations that could have resulted in citations. However, police said the officer ultimately issued only one citation.
Father Questions the Police Response
Kirchner disagrees with how the situation was handled and questioned the decision to cite and fingerprint his 11-year-old son.
“It’s one of the most absurd overreaches of justice I’ve ever seen,” Kirchner said.
The body camera footage provides a view of the traffic stop and the conversation between Cade and the officer. The footage also documents the fingerprinting and the officer’s explanation that the electric motorcycle would be towed.
The case has drawn attention because of Cade’s age and the circumstances surrounding the traffic stop, while police maintain that the vehicle was subject to motorcycle regulations because of its specifications.
Court Hearing Scheduled
Cade is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday morning in connection with the citation.
The case highlights the distinction between electric bicycles and higher-powered electric motorcycles, which can be subject to different registration, equipment and licensing requirements when operated on public roads.
For now, Oviedo police are standing by the traffic stop and the citation, while Cade’s father continues to challenge the way the incident was handled.