Dozens of illegal e-bikes have been seized in a raid in Sydney’s south, the second such blitz as part of a crackdown on dangerous riding by police and transport authorities.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Command officers joined forces with Transport for NSW to seize 22 illegal, modified and high-powered bikes in an operation across the Cronulla, Wollongong and Shellharbour regions on Friday afternoon and evening.
Exclusive footage captured by The Daily Telegraph shows some of the bikes being taken and loaded onto a trailer in Cronulla as a group of stunned young riders watched on.
One of the e-bikes taken had been modified to travel at 50km/h, while several others were able to reach speeds of 40km/h. Police issued nine penalty notices and four cautions during the raid.
The seizure occurred in an area of Sydney known for being a hotspot for dangerous and reckless use of e-bikes.
In one such incident, a senior NSW Police constable suffered a serious leg injury on Friday after allegedly being hit by an e-bike rider officers were attempting to stop on Aquatic Drive in Shell Cove.
The constable was taken to Shellharbour Hospital in a stable condition. The 18-year-old alleged rider, who fled from the scene, was later arrested and charged with several offences including driving recklessly.
He will face court on October 28.
Traffic and Highway Patrol commander, Assistant Commissioner David Driver, said riders should always check the legal requirements before purchasing an e-bike.
“This is the second operation after the new e-bike seizure laws came into effect and our message remains clear. There is no place on our roads and footpaths for illegal and modified e-bikes that put other people at risk,” he said.
“We know e-bikes are popular, particularly among young people; however, popularity does not give them exemption from the law.”
It follows a similar operation on Sydney’s northern beaches last month, where 36 illegal bikes were confiscated from Manly, Curl Curl, Dee Why and Avalon after a series of ‘rideouts’ causing disruptions to traffic.
Tough new e-bike laws were introduced into state parliament in August, giving police greater seizure powers and more streamlined enforcement actions for transport authorities.
E-bike owners have 14 days to apply to get a seized bike back, and police will only return the vehicle to its legal owner if neither the owner, or an immediate family member of the owner, rode the e-bike on a public road.
Transport for NSW legislation states a legal e-bike must have a maximum continuous power of 500 watts, and a motor function that cuts out at six kilometres per hour if the rider is not pedalling.