SAUGUS — Monday night’s Town Meeting showed full support for the addition of an e-bike section in the town’s bylaws, proposed by Precinct 6 Town Meeting member Elizabeth Marchese.

The bylaw, which was looked over by Town Counsel John Vasapolli for form and brought to the Finance Committee, had an in-depth review of each section, including the definitions of key terms such as what an electric bike is, the classes of different e-bikes, and the meaning of a public way.

In Section 4, which highlighted safety requirements, the article noted that all operators comply with bike regulations established by Massachusetts law and that operators under 16 wear a helmet while using an e-bike.

Section 7 described the penalties within the bylaw, which would be a warning on the first offense, a $50 fine on the second offense, a $150 fine on the third offense, and a $300 of the fourth and subsequent offenses.

Further into the penalties, Section 9, labeled impoundment, noted that an e-bike or motorized micromobility device in violation of the bylaw may be temporarily impounded by the police department when necessary.

The circumstances for impoundment include: a second or subsequent violation, reckless operation that becomes a public safety hazard, and repeated violations by a minor. Marchese also noted that the impoundment could last up to 15 days, and the release of the device requires payment of fines and the payment of an administrative impoundment fee.

Full support for the article was shown by the Board of Selectmen, with Chair Debra Panetta noting she had been working on an e-bike article when she heard about Marchese’s through the police chief.

Overwhelming support also came from Town Meeting members.

Precinct 8 Town Meeting member Arthur Grabowski spoke about his support for the article, discussing the times he has seen kids in town dangerously riding e-bikes and scooters.

“I think that this community over the last several months has seen a strong outpouring of support… Just sitting outside of Town Hall prior to this week, I saw people on these electric bicycles, and even motorized bicycles, going up and down the sidewalk. They had to be going 20 to 30 miles an hour, and God help anybody, especially an elderly person, who gets in their way,” he said.

Grabowski also noted the attitude of many young riders and the bikes taking over neighborhoods.

Precinct 1 Town Meeting member Sue Palomba also stood in support of the article, commenting on how she walks the rail trail and often sees motorized vehicles and e-bikes on the trail, even with a sign stating they are not allowed. She posed the question of what was being done to enforce the rules of the trail.

A question was also posed to Vasapolli as to whether the town would be affected if the Massachusetts General Court decided to pass its own laws on e-bikes.

“Even if Town Meeting passes this dialogue, the attorney general has to review it and approve it,” he said. “So, any time Town Meeting votes an amendment to the town bylaws (or) zoning bylaws, it’s subject to the approval of the attorney general. Not knowing what the language is in this legislation the governor is proposing, I don’t think this Town Meeting runs the risk of voting on this.”

In the end, the article received a unanimous “yes” vote from Town Meeting, allowing it to be reviewed by the attorney general.