Police departments across the U.S. are struggling to figure out what to do with the explosion of electric motorcycles, Sur-Rons, dirt bikes, and high-powered e-bikes flooding suburban streets and trails. Now, one Colorado town is taking a new approach. It’s asking residents to report riders directly to police through an anonymous online portal.

The Parker Police Department in south Denver recently launched its “E-Bike, Dirt Bike, & E-Motorcycle Safety Reporting” tool, allowing residents to submit locations, rider descriptions, and details about allegedly unsafe behavior. The form includes options like “stunt riding,” “unsafe lane changes,” “running stop signs,” and even “no dangerous actions/just riding.”

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Importantly, police are making the important distinction between genuine e-bikes, the ones made for commuting, trail use, and recreation, and electric motorcycles that are often nearly inoperable with the pedals alone. According to the department, many riders are allegedly operating without licenses, insurance, or registration while also damaging parks, trails, and private property. States nationwide have seen an uptick in illegal electric motorcycle use and abuse.

Parker Police also pointed to a recent California case where a mother was charged with involuntary manslaughter after her 14-year-old son allegedly struck and killed an 81-year-old man while riding an electric motorcycle. Officials say the incident highlights the potential dangers associated with improperly used high-powered electric bikes.

That all said, the new system effectively creates a crowdsourced enforcement network where residents can anonymously report riders without any direct interaction with law enforcement. While supporters will likely argue it improves public safety, critics may see it as another example of expanding surveillance culture creeping into everyday transportation.

One local tells Carscoops, “This isn’t an e-bike or e-motorcycle issue. It’s a person issue. If kids are running from the police, it’s a parenting issue. Either way, it’s about the person riding and not the mode of transportation.”

Whether Parker’s new reporting system becomes a model for other cities or a flashpoint in the growing debate over surveillance and micromobility remains to be seen. What’s clear is that towns and police departments are rapidly losing patience with high-powered electric motorcycles operating in legally gray areas, especially as crashes, complaints, and viral social media videos continue piling up.

Credit: Parker Police Department

The humble delivery van has come a long way. Kia’s PV5, until recently best known as a versatile electric workhorse, has been seconded into law enforcement. The company has signed on with the Korean National Police Agency to build a high-tech, AI-equipped patrol vehicle that also happens to carry a drone.

Visually, the PV5 already looks the part with its futuristic LEDs and sleek surfacing. For its new role, it wears a police livery with blue and yellow graphics over its black and white bodywork. The biggest party trick, though, is the roof extension housing an integrated drone station.

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When the PV5 pulls up to a scene, a section of the roof opens and an automated AI police drone takes flight. It handles aerial patrol in tight alleys and hazardous areas, the sort of places where the van itself, and indeed the officers, cannot or should not go.

The drone carries thermal imaging and a 90x zoom camera, useful kit for tracking suspects or finding missing persons. Once the job is done, it flies back to its dock and recharges using the van’s V2L system. As for the PV5 itself, no changes have been reported to the battery or electric powertrain.

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The roof structure also carries three AI-powered cameras providing 360-degree coverage with no blind spots. The software is clever enough to identify suspects by clothing or accessories, working through a crowd in real time and flagging up potential matches.

The AI can also detect specific threats like weapon-carrying individuals or injured citizens who may have fallen on the ground. It even includes crowd density monitoring to alert authorities for potential overcapacity risks in public spaces.

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The police-prepped Kia PV5 is scheduled to begin pilot operations in June 2026. It will be part of the Metropolitan Preventive Patrol Unit of the South Korean police force, focused on crime prevention and rapid response.

While this particular AI patrol vehicle is exclusive to Korea, it will be interesting to see whether the PV5 will serve as a base for police conversions in other parts of the world.

The Murphy Police Department in North Texas has become the first agency to roll out the refreshed 2026 Tesla Model Y Patrol, upgraded by Unplugged Performance. Instead of committing to a full fleet replacement, the department is running the EV in real-world conditions to see how it holds up to daily patrol duty.

Officials say the more persuasive case is financial. Each cruiser is projected to deliver measurable savings compared to a traditional ICE-powered patrol vehicle.

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According to data from the City of Murphy, projected annual savings per vehicle range from $4,100 for single-officer units to as much as $12,000 for shared-shift cars clocking more than 140 hours per week. The bulk of that comes from eliminating fuel purchases, though the department will still incur electricity costs, along with a 75% reduction in maintenance compared to gasoline vehicles such as the Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Explorer.

No Idling Wear

The savings story does not stop at fuel and oil changes. EVs do not suffer engine wear from constant idling, which accounts for roughly 60% of a patrol car’s working life. As a result, they are expected to remain in service for up to twice as long as an ICE-powered equivalent.

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Given that every hour spent idling is effectively equal to 33-35 miles (53-56 km) of driving wear, that difference adds up quickly. Without a combustion engine ticking away under the hood, the Model Y can sit on scene running lights, laptops, and climate control off its battery, without quietly shortening its lifespan.

Juniper Patrol Cars

On the hardware front, the facelifted Tesla Model Y Juniper has been converted into a patrol unit by UP.FIT, the specialized fleet division of Unplugged Performance. Compared to the road-going version, it gains a front push bar, additional LEDs at the front and sides, a roof-mounted siren, and 18-inch forged aluminum wheels wrapped in pursuit-rated tires.

The police car is offered in RWD and AWD configurations, using the standard electric powertrains and delivering between 321-357 miles (517-574 km) of range per charge. That is more than enough for routine duty. And because police work occasionally involves pursuits, braking performance has been upgraded with six-piston calipers, stainless steel brake lines, specialized fluids, thermally upgraded components, and uprated rotors.

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Inside, officers get ventilated seats and improved sound insulation. Each vehicle is retrofitted with a customizable center console, a laptop mount, two weapon mounts, upgraded interior lighting, and a single rear prisoner partition.

Optional extras include ballistic protection for the front doors and custom reflective graphics.

UP.FIT has not disclosed the final MSRP for the Murphy units, though it insists the total cost of ownership undercuts everything else in the segment. Beyond the Model Y crossover, the company also offers police-ready conversions for the Cybertruck, Model S/X, and Model 3, in case your local department prefers its patrol cars in a different shape.

UP.FIT / Unplugged Performance