Queensland police seize 558 e-mobility devices in three months

Queensland Police are seizing an average of six illegal e-mobility devices every day, as officers crack down on non-compliant e-bikes and e-scooters.

More than 27 infringement notices are also being issued each day.

In the first three months of the statewide Operation Yankee Surety, police seized 558 devices and handed out more than 2,400 traffic infringement notices to riders.

Emergency Response and Coordination Command Acting Assistant Commissioner, Tim Partrige, said the misuse of one of Australia's fastest-growing forms of transportation had "life-threatening consequences".

"Electric power assisted cycles, e-scooter and other e-mobility devices are vehicles, and like any other vehicle, dangerous behaviours like speeding, drink riding or using non-compliant devices can have life-threatening consequences — not only for the rider," Acting Assistant Commissioner Partrige said.

"Non-compliant devices and dangerous riding have no place in our communities, and police will continue to take enforcement action against those disregarding the law."

Since the operation began at the start of July, police conducted targeted enforcement to seize non-compliant devices, ensure age and licensing requirements are adhered to, and deter dangerous behaviour such as speeding, drink riding and riding without a helmet.

Of the 2,400 fines issued, about 1,500 — more than 60 per cent — were for riders failing to wear a helmet, while a further 157 users were caught speeding.

As police conducted 878 roadside breath tests on e-mobility riders over the three months, some 68 drink riders were prosecuted.

"As with any road safety operation, our goal under Operation Yankee Surety is to protect all road and pathway users, including those on e-mobility devices," Acting Assistant Commissioner Partrige said.

Since licensing restrictions for e-bikes and e-scooter came into effect at the end of August, 64 tickets have been issued for non-compliance.

Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Capricornia have emerged as the hot spots for illegal e-mobility activity, according to Queensland Police data for the first three months of the campaign.

The Sunshine Coast led the state in terms of non-compliant bikes seized by police, with 146 compared to 88 on the Gold Coast. Brisbane's northside saw the most traffic infringement notices issued.

North Brisbane saw 511 notices given out, while South Brisbane users received 433. Capricornia reported 254 notices issued over the same period, almost twice of neighbouring Mackay Whitsunday (133).

The Queensland capital city recorded the highest number of positive RBTs for e-mobility users with a combined 38.