Mayor Zohran Mamdani sends cease-and-desist letters to Ta…

Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York City has issued cease-and-desist letters to 40 major retailers including Target and Amazon, demanding they stop selling prohibited motorized scooters and e-bikes. This action follows a tragic incident where a 17-year-old was killed while riding an e-bike that exceeded legal speed limits. The letters assert that retailers must only sell vehicles compliant with city laws, and further violations could lead to fines of up to $2,000 per sale starting August 18. Compliance requirements include speed limits for e-bikes and specifications for motor power.

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by: Emily Rahhal

Posted: Aug 5, 2026 / 12:14 PM EDT

Updated: Aug 5, 2026 / 04:11 PM EDT

NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) — Mayor Zohran Mamdani has sent cease-and-desist letters to 40 major retailers, including Target and Amazon, over the sale of “prohibited motorized scooters and e-bikes.”

“It is the responsibility of retailers to only sell the vehicles permissible under New York law in our city,” Mamdani said. “[New Yorkers] trust that the product they are purchasing is legal in the city that they call home.”

The online retailers that will receive the cease-and-desist include Wayfair, Walmart, Temu, and more. The letters demand the stores “immediately end the sale of prohibited motorized scooters and e-bikes to New York City residents” and businesses, Mamdani said.

Come Aug. 18, the stores could face fines of up to $2,000 for each sale, Mamdani said.

Mamdani said the retailers all sell prohibited devices, like e-bikes that exceed legal speed limits, scooters that go beyond legal wattage limits, and mopeds without proper VINs.

It comes a week after 17-year-old Gabriel Nacato was fatally struck by an SUV while riding an e-bike in Lower Manhattan. He was on his way from Bensonhurst to fill out summer job applications with a career counselor, Mamdani said.

“The vehicle he was riding is capable of reaching more than 30 miles per hour, a speed that should never be reached in our bike lanes,” Mamdani said.

The speed limit for e-bikes is 15 miles per hour in the city, and the maximum speed for the device must be under 20 or 25 mph, depending on the type of bike. The bikes can only have motors under 750 watts in power. Stand-up scooters cannot weigh more than 100 pounds or travel over 20 mph.

“Let’s be clear, these are motorcycles being marketed to New Yorkers as bicycles,” said Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn.

Target did not immediately respond to PIX11 News’ request for comment.

Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here.

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