A Sunshine Coast councillor and more than 1500 locals are calling for tougher e-mobility laws, as data highlights the extent of injuries from the machines.
Deputy Mayor Maria Suarez has started a petition, which has received significant support in just a few days, urging the state government to do more to address e-bike and e-scooter issues.
The push comes as Sunshine Coast Health revealed to Sunshine Coast News that in just 12 months, more than 350 people attended the Sunshine Coast University Hospital emergency department with injuries caused by the devices.
Cr Suarez said residents wanted to draw attention to “rising unsafe and anti-social e-bike and e-scooter use, increasing youth injuries, intimidation of residents and limited enforcement powers”.
“Regulatory gaps and unregulated high‑powered devices are escalating community safety risks across Queensland.”
In response, a Queensland Police Service spokesperson said police were focused on education and enforcement, and they have conducted operations to clamp down on illegal e-mobility use. Meanwhile, a parliamentary inquiry into e-scooter and e-bike safety and use is well underway.
The petition requested the state government “urgently strengthen Queensland’s e-mobility safety framework”.
Signatories urged authorities to: amend legislation, giving QPS powers to seize, confiscate and destroy non‑compliant e‑mobility devices, similar to anti‑hooning laws, where devices are used in unsafe or anti‑social ways; work with the federal government to strengthen regulations, including tighter importation and safety standards, and ensure high‑powered e‑motorbike‑style devices are sold only through authorised motorcycle dealerships; and work with the federal government to develop anti‑tampering laws to prevent manipulation of electric drive motors for higher speeds and regulate the sale and installation of conversion kits, with penalties for modified devices used in public places.
The petition also asked the state government to: introduce clear identification of overpowered devices permitted only on private‑property, with seizure and destruction if used in public places; publish information identifying non-compliant models to assist consumers before purchase; resource QPS to increase enforcement using drones, CCTV, and enabling compliance checks within schools; and amend legislation so minors aged 10–18 with unpaid e‑mobility fines cannot obtain learner or provisional licences, and existing licence holders face penalties.
“Your petitioners request these measures be implemented urgently to reduce community harm, support police, protect young people and ensure safe e‑mobility use across Queensland,” it stated.
A QPS spokesperson said there were several penalties for improper use.
“Penalties commonly associated with e-bikes and scooters include not wearing a helmet, not giving way to pedestrians, excess passengers (doubling), using a mobile phone while riding, disobeying give way or stop signs, riding on prohibited roads and ignoring traffic lights. Fines for these penalties range from $160 to $1200.”
The spokesperson said e-motorbikes and illegal e-bikes were captured under the legislative definition of a motor vehicle.
“Penalties for driving an unregistered vehicle or without a license include fines exceeding $1500 and three demerit points, and in some cases criminal charges. Illegal e-mobility devices can also be seized in certain circumstances on a case-by-case basis.”
The spokesperson said police are actively cracking down on illegal e-mobility use and informing youths and parents of the dangers and the laws.
“Officers regularly conduct proactive operations across the state targeting e-mobility devices, including e-bikes, PMDs, e-scooters and electric motorbikes. These operations focus on education and enforcement, highlighting the importance of safe and lawful riding, particularly among young people.”
“On November 3, QPS launched the statewide operation, X-Ray Surety, aimed at reducing trauma and noncompliance involving PMDs and e-bikes through engagement, education and enforcement.
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“During this operation, police worked closely with schools, communities and riders statewide to increase awareness of the rules, encourage safe behaviour and take enforcement action where required.
“Education is a key priority for policing dangerous and illegal e-mobility devices. Riders who operate unregistered, unlicensed, or modified e mobility devices put themselves and others at significant risk. When purchasing these devices, it is important to ensure they comply with Queensland road safety requirements and are used responsibly.
“Parents and guardians are also urged to know where their children are riding and how they are using e mobility devices. Police remind families that unsafe or illegal riding can result in serious injury or even loss of life.”
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A Sunshine Coast Health spokesperson said that many of the people who presented to the SCUH emergency department with e-scooter or e-bike injuries, from November 2024 to November 2025, suffered significant blows.
“The audit found that over one third of these patients sustained head injuries.”
“Head injuries were slightly more common among e-bike riders and were more likely when a helmet was not worn.”
There was a stark increase in presentations from 2024, when about 120 people were treated for with e-mobility related injuries.
Caloundra MP Kendall Morton said a state government parliamentary inquiry into e-scooter and e-bike safety would be finished soon.
“E-mobility is a topical issue and it’s a huge issue for our community,” she said.
“I hope that Cr Suarez is aware of the enormous body of work that the government is currently undertaking in regard to our parliamentary inquiry.
“What’s crucial here is that it’s important that we get this right, and we’re not going to have a knee-jerk reaction.
“I’d like to acknowledge the outstanding work of the committee. They have travelled the state, they’ve heard from multiple stakeholders and they will hand down their recommendations in the next month or so.”
View Cr Suarez’s E-petition here.
