More than 100 e-bikes and e-scooters have been confiscated and hundreds of fines have been issued during the first 10 days of Queensland’s tougher e-mobility laws.
The state government stated on Monday that 103 illegal e-mobility devices were seized by police and 420 traffic infringement notices were issued to riders across the state under new nation-leading laws.
Queensland Police Service said under Operation Yankee Surety, among those whose devices were seized was a 16-year-old Sunshine Coast boy, who Kawana Waters Police intercepted at about 1.10pm on 7 July after they observed him run a red light, perform a wheel stand and weave through traffic on Nicklin Way, Buddina.
Kawana Waters Police and officers from Caloundra and Nambour Child Protection Investigation Units followed the boy to a local business, where upon inspection, determined the device was a non-compliant e-motorcycle.
The boy was dealt with under the Youth Justice Act for charges of dangerous operation of a vehicle, unlicenced driving, driving an uninsured vehicle and driving an unregistered vehicle, and the device was seized by police.
The new laws target dangerous riding behaviour, illegal high-powered devices, speeding, drink riding, helmet offences and other unlawful conduct, and give police the ability to seize and destroy illegal devices, conduct random breath testing of riders in public places and issue tougher penalties for dangerous offences.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie said: “the free ride is over”.
“If you’re riding an illegal e-bike or e-scooter, putting pedestrians at risk or treating public spaces like your own racetrack, expect to be caught,” he said.
“We’ve given police the laws needed to target reckless riders and protect Queenslanders.”
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said the reforms supported responsible riders and targetted dangerous behaviour.
“The Crisafulli Government’s reforms are practical, enforceable and get the balance right between keeping Queenslanders safe from those doing the wrong thing, while backing those who do the right thing,” he said.
“We said we would make the tough decisions to deliver our nation leading e-mobility laws, and the early evidence shows those decisions are already starting to pay off.
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Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman said the results highlighted the importance of the operation’s strong presence across the state.
“Operation Surety is about detecting, intercepting and deterring dangerous riding behaviours, and making it clear to Queenslanders that unsafe behaviour will not be tolerated,” he said.
“It is disappointing to see more than 400 riders charged for reckless behaviours in just under two weeks.
“However, this reinforces how important it is that our officers are out every day disrupting these dangerous behaviours and ensuring riders understand their responsibility while making our roads and public spaces safe.”
