New South Wales Police seize 36 illegal e-bikes
Police in the Australian state of New South Wales have seized 36 e-bikes on Sydney’s northern beaches that, according to law enforcement, did not meet legal requirements. Owners will have 14 days to notify police if the vehicle was stolen and used by another person. After that period, the bikes are to be destroyed, the state government said.
As The Guardian World reports, the operation was carried out following recent cases of illegal, dangerous and reckless use of e-bikes in the northern beaches area. One of the seized bikes belonged to a 14-year-old boy from Warriewood and was capable of reaching speeds of more than 90 km/h, police said.
New police powers
At the end of August, New South Wales Police were granted the power to destroy e-bikes capable of exceeding legally established speed limits. Law enforcement officers can also seize models whose electric motor does not switch off after reaching 25 km/h.
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State authorities purchased portable devices to test the power and speed of e-bikes. One such device was used during the operation. According to police, one of the tested bikes could travel at more than 40 km/h simply by pressing the accelerator.
Fines and injury statistics
During the operation, police issued 16 fines and 46 warnings for other traffic-rule violations. These included riding without a helmet, using a mobile phone and carrying several people on one bike.
In New South Wales, 226 e-bike-related injuries were recorded in 2024. In the first seven months of 2025, the number of such injuries reached 233, and four deaths were also registered. Assistant Police Commissioner David Driver said similar operations would be conducted in other parts of the state in the coming weeks.
