More than 1,500 riders were fined for failing to wear a helmet, while 157 were pinged for speeding. Around 13% of 878 roadside breath tests came back positive, leading to fines starting at $518 for blowing 0.05 to 0.10; $863 for 0.10 to 0.15; and up to $4,400 above that. The government did not provide a breakdown of blood alcohol levels for the drink riders.
Operation Surety kicked off on July 1, when the new laws came into effect.
Since the second tranche of reforms involving new age and licensing requirements for e-mobility riders began on August 31, an additional 64 people have been charged.
Queensland police and emergency services minister Dan Purdie said the first three months of the reforms delivered on a promise to take action over e-mobility use.
“More than 500 non-compliant devices have been taken off Queensland streets and nearly 2,500 riders have been held to account.
“Three months in, we are seeing the difference the Crisafulli government’s nation-leading laws are making – and we will keep working to ensure Queenslanders can use our roads, footpaths and shared pathways safely.”
In NSW, the government has also cracked down on illegal e-bikes, this week crushing 23 of the e-bikes seized in a police operation on Sydney’s Northern Beaches in mid-September.
All up 36 e-bikes were seized, but NSW police are now assessing applications for the return of 13 bikes.
The government said the e-bikes crushed include one with a top speed of than 90km/h seized from a 14-year-old, and well-known brands that had been ‘tampered with’ to override speed restriction setting, plus a food delivery bike.
Under the new NSW laws, e-bikes should have: a max speed of 6 km/h while not pedalling; power assistance that cuts out above 25 km/h; and a maximum continuous power of 250 watts (500w is allowed until March 1 2029).
If you’re 16 years or older and not supervising a child under 16 riding a bike, you can’t ride on the footpath.
