Fawkner police are ramping up their focus on e-scooters riders in the Brunswick area, as the mode of transport increases in popularity among locals.
An operation, led by Fawkner Highway Patrol, will see police out and about in Brunswick and surrounding areas engaging with early morning commuters to ensure compliance with the current legislation around e-scooters.
The concerted focus comes following several incidents in the surrounding areas involving e-scooters, including one that left a man with life threatening injuries in Pascoe Vale on 22 September.
Investigators were told a man was riding an e-scooter along Cornwall Road when it appeared he lost control of the scooter while travelling over a speed-hump at around 8.20am.
The rider was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries and the investigation into the collision is ongoing.
Brunswick is not an area included in the Department of Transport’s trial across the City of Melbourne, the City of Yarra, and the City of Port Phillip.
Current legislation deems any non-trial e-scooter that can travel over 10km/h or emits over 200 watts is illegal and cannot be ridden on public roads, bike lanes or footpaths.
High powered e-scooters are considered a motor vehicle and riders can attract a $925 fine for using an unregistered vehicle, with e-scooters currently unable to be registered and ridden legally on roads.
The operation will run on Monday morning (3 October) and will continue as police plan more activity to engage with riders over the coming months.
For more information on the e-scooter rules, visit the E-scooter page on the Victoria Police website.
Quotes attributable to Fawkner Road Policing Acting Inspector Darren Kenos:
“Police, like the community, have seen more people frequently using e-scooters as a mode of transport across the Brunswick area.”
“Any situation where high-powered e-scooters mix with pedestrians or other road users outside of the current trial only increase the risks, and this is only heightened if current road rules aren’t being followed.”
“We are always looking to educate people when we engage with them, however given the seriousness of the collisions we are seeing we are not going to hesitate to issue fines for blatant disregard of the rules.”
“Fawkner Highway Patrol will be supported by plain clothes police, with a strong presence in the Brunswick area to ensure everyone can make it to their destination safely.”
