Parental fines and licences will apply to e-bike and e-scooter riders across Queensland under a new crackdown on illegal devices and behaviour on Monday.
Under the new set, or tranche, of laws, parents will be fined if children under 16 are caught riding e-bikes or e-scooters illegally.
Riders will need to be at least 16 years old and hold a minimum learner’s licence.
The Queensland government says almost 400 illegal e-bikes and e-scooters were seized and 1747 fines issued since the first tranche of laws kicked in on July 1.
Exemptions to the second tranche of new laws will apply to 12-17 years old riding with their parents and to those medically barred from holding a licence.
PREVIOUS REFORMS
Tranche 1 of the laws which kicked off on July 1 allow:
- Police can destroy bikes and scooters, and carry out random breath tests;
- Ban unassisted e-bikes and e-scooters that travel faster than 25km/h with a 12km/h speed limit near pedestrians;
- Higher penalties for speeding, helmet, careless riding and passenger offences.
TYPES OF LICENCES
Interstate and international licences will be accepted but a licence suspension or disqualification will ban the holder from riding.
Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg says the new laws “get the balance right” between punishing offenders and exempting “sensible Queenslanders.
“We promised to deliver nation-leading laws about who can ride, what they can ride, where they can ride, and how fast – and our laws will do exactly that.”
Police Minister Dan Purdie says the new laws are about “giving hardworking police the laws, resources and support they need to do their jobs”.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Rhys Wildman says the risky behaviour of these riders is jeopardising road safety.
“For young road users who lack experience on roads, the consequences of these behaviours can be catastrophic; even the smallest lapse in concentration can result in a tragedy,” he says.
“But where riders choose to disregard the law, enforcement action will follow.”
Click here for more details about the new laws.
