A spate of e-scooter-related traffic offences over the Christmas and New Year break was a hard reminder to some Canberrans that motorised scooters are more than a novelty.
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During ACT Policing's last double-demerit period officers gave 11 infringement notices to e-scooter riders in Canberra.
The most common infringement was failing to wear a helmet with five fines and two cautions given to Canberran riders.
ACT Policing issued three fines to riders found travelling with a passenger.
One rider was given a caution for traveling on an e-scooter on the road.
It seems some e-scooter riders have been keeping authorities busy in recent months.
Earlier this month footage of young men performing burnouts on hire scooters emerged, prompting condemnation from scooter companies and police alike.
There were also reports of vandalism and scooters being dumped of scooters in waterways.
However ACT Policing was unable to provide statistics relating to the damage of e-scooters.
Scooter hire company Beam said last week they will ban users found misusing e-scooters.
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Beam vice-president of corporate affairs Christopher Hilton said it was hard to know exactly how many of its e-scooters have been dumped in waterways in Canberra but it was "fewer than five, and thus far none in the creeks."
While Canberrans do not require a licence to ride an e-scooter they are still bound by ACT traffic laws.
The double-demerit period ran from December 23, 2020 and January 3, 2021.
Of the 11 infringements, three were cautions and eight were fines.
All fines related to e-scooter riding offenses are $153.
E-scooter rules recap:
- Riders must wear approved bicycle helmets.
- Riders cannot use a mobile device while riding on an e-scooter.
- E-scooters must have a bell or warning device.
- Riders cannot drink and ride.
- Riders can not carry passengers.
- E-scooters must have lights and reflectors at night or in rough weather conditions.
- Riders must give way to pedestrians and keep left on footpaths.
- E-scooters must not travel on the road unless there is not a footpath, shared path or nature strip along the road or an on-road bicycle lane.
- The speed limits for e-scooters are 25km/h on shared paths and bicycle paths, and 15km/h on a footpath.
- Scooters must slow down to 10km/h when approaching and when travelling across a crossing.
- Children under the age of 12 must not use an electric scooter without adult supervision. E-scooter providers Beam and Neuron do not allow riders under the age of 18 on their scooters.
- E-scooter rides must obey ACT road transport laws.
Julia Kanapathippillai
I like writing fascinating stories about Canberra. If you have a tip or a story email julia.k@austcommunitymedia.com.au
I like writing fascinating stories about Canberra. If you have a tip or a story email julia.k@austcommunitymedia.com.au
