A Brisbane e-scooter rider has become the first person charged under tougher new e-mobility laws, alleged to be riding over the legal alcohol limit.
The 28-year-old Teneriffe man was stopped by police for not wearing a helmet on Queen Street in the CBD, just after midnight.
Police Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman said officers were able to breath test him, with new powers coming into effect just seven minutes earlier.
The man was stopped initially because he wasn’t wearing a helmet. (Supplied: Queensland Police)
“He returned a reading of 0.067, so that individual will be appearing before the Brisbane Magistrates Court after being issued a notice to appear this morning on the 20th of July,” he said.
“We couldn’t do that yesterday, whereas today we can.”
A host of tougher laws to crack down on illegal e-mobility device use came into effect today, including allowing police to conduct random breath tests of riders.
The blood alcohol limit for riders is 0.05, as it is for drivers, with fines of more than $500 and maximum court penalties of almost $7,000.
Officers out in force to flex new powers
Police today launched a new operation aimed at enforcing the new laws, named Yankee Surety.
“From a policing perspective, we’re encouraging our officers to use a combination of three elements,” Assistant Commissioner Wildman said.
“Firstly, it’s around the device. Secondly, it’s around the rider. Thirdly, it’s around the behaviour.
“Those three elements come together to assist our officers [to] make appropriate decisions in conducting enforcement.”
In the first six months of the year, before the law changes, police issued more than 2,600 e-mobility-related infringement notices, with more than 1,800 of those for not wearing helmets.
In the year to date, four people have died in e-mobility-related incidents on roads, with 12 recorded fatalities last year.
Mr Wildman highlighted riders frequently decided not to stop for police but said it was rare they escaped charges if acting illegally.
“We have a very high success rate of tracking down these offenders and holding them accountable,” he said.
Police Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman said officers could breath test the man under the new laws. (ABC News: Kimberley Bernard)
“We have multiple capabilities that we leverage to identify, track down, and bring these offenders to justice.”
New laws taking effect today include giving police powers to seize and destroy illegal devices, higher penalties for speeding and not wearing a helmet, while parents can be held accountable for their children flouting laws.
Riders will be required to hold at least a learners license from August 31, with exemptions for people who cannot hold one due to a medical condition.
