BRISBANE, Queensland, Sept. 14 -- The Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet issued text of the following statement:
Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Brent Mickelberg
* Confiscated illegal e-bikes and e-scooters are now being destroyed under the Crisafulli Government's nation-leading e-mobility reforms.
* The crackdown is restoring safety to Queensland streets, footpaths and shared pathways after years of dangerous and illegal riding.
* The laws are giving police the tools they need to seize and destroy illegal high-powered devices.
* TheCrisafulli Government is making Queensland safer, while backing those who do the right thing.
The Crisafulli Government's nation-leading e-mobility reforms is making Queensland safer, with hundreds of illegal devices seized from Queensland streets and the first batch now being crushed and destroyed.
The reforms were introduced by the Crisafulli Government in response to growing community concern about dangerous and illegal riding behaviour, including the use of high-powered devices on roads, footpaths and shared pathways which had resulted in injuries and deaths.
Since the first tranche of reforms commenced on 1 July, Queensland Police have seized 466 illegal e-bikes and e-scooters and issued 2,142 traffic infringement notices as part of a targeted statewide enforcement response.
The Crisafulli Government promised to act and is restoring safety where you live, after delivering the toughest e-mobility laws in the nation to hold offenders accountable.
The former Labor Government allowed illegal high-powered devices proliferate across Queensland, contributing to thousands of injuries while community concerns were ignored.
The destruction of confiscated devices sends the clear message, if an illegal e-bike is seized, it will be destroyed.
The batteries and metal from seized devices will be recycled wherever possible, helping ensure the disposal process is environmentally responsible.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said the Crisafulli Government was making Queensland safer.
"These e-bikes being crushed today should never have been on Queensland streets and they should not be in the hands of riders putting themselves and others at risk," Minister Mickelberg said.
"We promised Queenslanders we would introduce nation-leading laws, give police the powers they asked for and crack down on illegal high-powered devices, and the numbers speak for themselves.
"More than 400 devices have already been seized and more than 2,100 infringement notices issued - that's over 2,100 examples of dangerous behaviour being held to account.
"Every seized bike crushed today is one less illegal device on our streets, one less risk to pedestrians and road users and another step towards safer communities.
"If you're doing the wrong thing, if you're riding an illegal high-powered device or putting others at risk, Queensland Police now have the powers to seize your bike and destroy it."
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie said the results demonstrated the effectiveness of the reforms.
"Queenslanders asked for stronger action and police asked for stronger powers and the Crisafulli Government delivered both," Minister Purdie said.
"These reforms are removing dangerous devices from our streets and ensuring people who put the community at risk are being held accountable.
"If you're doing the wrong thing, expect consequences."
ENDS
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Minister Mickelberg: Mardi Norton, 0467 746 523
Minister Purdie: Samantha Scott,0499 984 004
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
