With the explosion of illegally modified e-bikes on Australian roads, the inevitable has happened: an e-bike rider has been arrested and charged following a ‘hooning’ incident in Victoria.
Police allege a rider of a modified e-bike used his back wheel to perform a stationary burnout against the police vehicle, causing damage.
The offence occurred in February when police attended an incident on Lakeside Drive in Albert Park when more than 100 youths on e-bikes, motorbikes and bicycles blocked traffic and became aggressive towards police.
Following enquiries, police executed a search warrant at a home on Camms Road, Cranbourne, at 6am on Tuesday 6 May.
During a search of the property, police seized a quantity of cannabis, cannabis seeds, electronic devices and clothing relevant to the investigation.
A 21-year-old man was arrested and charged with unlicensed driving, use of an unregistered motor vehicle, criminal damage, cultivation of a narcotic plant and possession of cannabis.
He was bailed to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 25 July.
Modified e-bikes and e-scooters can be classified as motorcycles if their power exceeds 200 watts.
For this reason, riders are required to hold a valid licence and registration in accordance with the Road Safety Act before the e-bike or e-scooter can be ridden on the road.
South Melbourne Police Senior Sergeant Travis Costelow said, “Seeing such a large group of people – especially youths – attempting to not only intimidate police and other road users, but cause dangerous disruptions to traffic, is something we simply won’t stand for.
“Riders of e-bikes must adhere to the same laws as every other road user.
“E-bikes can have the capability to travel at high speeds which can make riders more vulnerable to being seriously injured in an accident.
“We hear feedback from the community on a regular basis that the illegal use of e-bikes and e-scooters is something that really concerns them.
"Rest assured, our members are tasked with holding those riders to account.”
In a related development, a pedestrian is in critical condition after a collision on Frankston-Flinders Road in Hastings involving an illegally modified e-bike.
The pedestrian, a 69-year-old Hastings man, was flown to hospital with life-threatening injuries. He has now died.
The bike rider, a 24-year-old Hastings man, was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
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