HARTFORD, Conn. (WFSB) – As e-bikes top many teenagers’ holiday wish lists, Connecticut police are reminding parents about new state laws that went into effect October 1 that classify some models as motor vehicles requiring a driver’s license.

More than a million e-bikes were sold in the United States last year, and the devices continue growing in popularity among teenagers and older adults who want to stay active.

“So many kids are buying e-bikes or getting them as gifts, and they can be very powerful,” Chief Joshua Bernegger of the Watertown Police Department said.

The new Connecticut law creates three different classes of e-bikes based on speed and power. All riders must wear helmets regardless of the class.

If the e-bike’s motor is less than 750 watts, there is no age restriction and riders only need to wear a helmet. However, if the motor is 750 watts or more, Connecticut no longer considers it an e-bike but classifies it as a “motor driven cycle.” These require riders to be at least 16 years old and have a driver’s license.

E-bikes with top speeds exceeding 28 miles per hour are not classified as e-bikes under state law.

Bernegger said the new laws address rising safety concerns about e-bike accidents.

“We’ve been seeing a lot of serious accidents in CT over the past year,” Bernegger said. “The number of fatal accidents involving bicycles has risen more than 300% over the prior year, and our emergency rooms are seeing dramatic increase in significant injuries for children and adolescents riding e-bikes.”

The police chief said some e-bikes may be too powerful for young teenagers to handle safely.

“It’s often more of a bike than a young teen, 13, 14, 15-years-old can really handle,” Bernegger said.

Eric Otero, lead salesman at Bikers Edge in Bristol, said e-bikes have transformed his sales floor in recent years.

“Teenagers are kind of taking over the streets on them,” Otero said. “I get calls everyday about them.”

Otero said he sells a couple e-bikes each week, usually to teenagers eager to ride on city streets.

Bernegger advised parents to research their purchases carefully, especially when buying online.

“It’s often more of a bike than a young teen, 13, 14, 15 years old, can really handle,” Bernegger said.

The new law includes specific penalties for violations. Riding without a helmet results in a $90 fine. Riding a modified e-bike costs $100. Riding a motor driven cycle under age 16 or without a driver’s license can result in the bike being impounded.

Otero advised parents to act quickly if they plan to purchase an e-bike for the holidays.

“I’d call now because they’re going faster than you think,” Otero said.

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It’s not only the turkey that’s going to cost you more. Grocery prices are still up from last year.

That’s why nonprofits and food banks In Connecticut are stepping in to help people struggling this Thanksgiving.

For Pastor Brenda Adkins, her annual Day of Joy brings Thanksgiving to thousands of New Haven area families unable to celebrate themselves.

“You’re not thinking about a light bill or a gas bill. You’re being served a nice hot meal,” Adkins said.

Her church, His Divine Will Fellowship, has been doing the event for 15 years providing hot holiday meals, but year 16 has been challenging with ingredients costing more now.

“Last year, a box of mashed potatoes was $2.49. This year is $3.49,” she said.

Adkins said the church is spending $1,700 more this year on the same ingredients, much of it driven by the price of meat.

“Even the price of chicken, you know, what we paid last year, it’s double, triple than what we paid last year,” she said.

This comes as food prices have gone up since last year, especially here in the Hartford-New Haven area. That’s according to data from the marketing research firm NIQ.

Eggs, for instance, are up about 7% in our area, and a loaf of bread is up about 2.5% from last year. Other items are going up like ground beef, which is now 10% more ,and chicken breast which is up about 3%.

At the Seymour Oxford Food Bank, Executive Director Kristina Walton said she’s seen double the families come through compared to last year. The delays with food stamps and the coming holiday season bringing much of the traffic with items not on shelves for long.

“It goes, it moves very quickly. It comes in, it goes out,” Walton said.

While she credits partnerships with local grocery stores and the generosity of the community, Walton worries about the future.

“Once we get through the holiday season, donations drop off in both physical donations and monetary donations. And that could be concerning when the need is still so big,” she said.

But for Adkins, she’s committed to having the day of joy despite the challenges.

“It’s an event that you have to come and experience it for yourself,” she said.