Police crack down on illegal e-bikes and e-scooters in Queensland and Derbyshire

Law enforcement agencies in Queensland, Australia, and Derbyshire, United Kingdom, have reported significant seizures of illegal e-mobility devices as part of crackdowns on unsafe riding behavior.

In Queensland, police have seized 466 illegal e-bikes and e-scooters and issued 2,142 traffic infringement notices since e-mobility reforms took effect in July. Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg stated that confiscated devices are destroyed, with batteries and metal recycled, to prevent high-powered devices from being used on roads and footpaths.

In Derbyshire, officers have seized more than 1,000 e-scooters since November 2024 under a ‘seize first’ approach. Authorities noted several high-risk incidents, including children operating high-speed scooters. Police reported that since the new approach began, there have been no reported e-scooter collisions causing serious injuries in the county, compared to eight such incidents in 2024. In both regions, seized vehicles are crushed and recycled.