MELBOURNE, VIC. — Police have issued hundreds of fines during a major road policing operation this month in Melbourne’s CBD targeting non-compliant e-bikes.
Operation Consider, which sees members from Victoria Police’s State Highway Patrol and Solo Unit teaming up with North West Metro’s Bike Patrol, has relaunched this month, with police focused on enforcing e-bike compliance and safety.
Police have patrolled the CBD streets and surrounds using bicycles, motorcycles and highway patrol vehicles, targeting riders using overpowered and illegal e-bikes.
There has been a particular focus on food delivery riders using e-bikes in the CBD.
Police have issued 174 traffic infringements to non-compliant e-bike riders so far this month, including 44 for unregistered vehicles and 32 for unlicensed riders.
An overpowered e-bike is considered a motorcycle and subject to the same road rules as other motorcycles, including licensing and registration.
If caught on an overpowered or non-compliant e-bike, penalties can include using an unregistered vehicle, which carries a $1018 fine, or unlicensed driving, which also carries a $1018 fine.
Police also issued 40 infringements to e-bike riders for failing to wear a helmet, which carries a $254 penalty.
Police have issued a total of 275 infringements during Operation Consider in June.
