To the editor:

In a Sept. 30, Letter to the Editor, Rep. Jennifer Boylan frivolously writes that District 67 State Representative Candidate Joseph DePasquale was mistaken when he stated RI law “prohibits anyone under the age of 16 years old from operating an electric motorized scooter or bicycle on public ways.” 

However, in an article published on Aug. 11, 2026, regarding e-bikes, the Barrington Times post “there is also a law prohibiting anyone under the age of 16 from riding an electric bike.” And in an article written on July 20, 2026 Josh Bickford states in the Times “State Law prohibits a juvenile under the 16 years of age to operate any class of electric motorized bicycles.” Also, a July 6, 2026 article in the Times reminds parents “State law prohibits a juvenile under 16 years of age to operate any class of electric motorized bicycles” and in a May 6, 2026 article the Times writes “it is illegal for anyone under the age of 16 to drive an electric bike.”  

I believe District 67 State Representative candidate Joseph DePasquale was done a disservice on this issue and the depiction of him being uninformed is patently false. Joe does his homework. He has been a town councilman for over 20 years and currently serves as president and has consistently been on top of local issues, particularly as an ardent watchdog on budgets and spending. 

While Rep. Boylan deals with semantics and self-aggrandizement, she should be focused on reducing the state budget, which under her watch, has increased 60% over the last six years, from $9,000,000,000 to $15,000,000,000. Rep. Boylan is nitpicking the difference between an electric bike and scooter and took a cheap shot, whereas Joe DePasquale is working to address the real issues affecting RI voters and taxpayers.

Michael Martins

Warren