The boy was spotted by police after he allegedly ran a stop sign in a residential area. The officer tried to pull him over but the boy didn't stop and continued driving at speeds up to 45 mph, police said in a news release.
The pursuit lasted about a mile until the rider stopped in a cul-de-sac and was detained.
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That's when the officer discovered the rider was 12 years old. The motorcycle was a Talaria electric motorcycle, capable of speeds up to 60 mph, and required a driver's license.
The officer contacted the boy's parents and issued citations to the youth on suspicion of evading a police officer, reckless driving, and driving without a license. The parents were also issued citations for allegedly allowing a juvenile to ride illegally.
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The juvenile was released to his parents, and the case is being referred to the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office for criminal review. The electric motorcycle was towed on a 30-day hold.
"These electric motorcycles are not 'e-bikes' -- they are motor vehicles, and are not street legal," Danville Police Chief Thomas Rossberg said. "Not only will illegal riders be stopped and cited, parents of underage riders will also be cited. We encourage families to educate themselves on legal e-bikes and safety guidelines by visiting the Not My Kid website atdanville.ca.gov/notmykid."