E-Scooters in NSW - Have You Been Fined?

onthefence on 14/06/2022 - 18:44
Last edited 15/06/2022 - 09:26 by 1 other user

So the NSW government seems to be slowly warming to e-scooters but they're still illegal. I see enough of them around the CBD to think that surely fines aren't being handed out, and that a blind eye is being turned.

I'm thinking about getting one for my commute to replace 20 minute trips on the light rail. Problem is that the economics only work out if I don't get fined.

So it's a simple poll for people who ride e-scooters in NSW - have you ever been fined?

If you have (or even if you haven't), it would be interesting to read your experiences in the comments.

EDIT: As things stand, that's 13 people who ride e-scooters in NSW (maybe they don't anymore), 9 of whom have been fined. I don't like those odds!

Poll Options

  • 8
    I ride an e-scooter in NSW and have never been fined
  • 10
    I ride an e-scooter in NSW and have been fined
  • 117
    I don't ride an e-scooter (or don't live in NSW) but would like to participate in this poll
Automotive Electric Scooter

Comments

  • jjjaar on 14/06/2022 - 18:48
    +12

    Appreciate the third option, cheers.

  • Hybroid on 14/06/2022 - 18:48
    +1

    It's quite similar to the "jaywalking" fines. 99% of the time it's fine, even in front of police, if they're not doing it themselves too. 1% chance you could get pulled aside and written up for it.

    I do hate the e-scooters zipping up and down pedestrian walking pavements though. Have zero issue with them if they kept to the bicycle lane or light rail lane.

    • jv on 14/06/2022 - 23:15

      99% of the time it's fine

      until you have an accident on the road and find out what happens when you are not insured…

      • payless69 on 15/06/2022 - 09:44

        Zilch will happen if you do not own a house! In fact you do get rewarded!

  • pegaxs on 14/06/2022 - 19:03
    +5

    Not been fined, but I got pulled over by a police car and chatted to about it and I informed them that I was riding it as a kick scooter (as batteries were flat). I was riding it downhill on a totally empty bike path at about walking pace. I said he was welcome to get out of his patrol car and see if he could get it to move under battery power and if it did move under battery power, he could fine me to the full extent of the law.

    He warned me about riding it and told me to walk it home and park it and dont ride it in public spaces. I took it home and parked it, never ridden it since.

    • dust on 14/06/2022 - 19:15
      +3

      Wow haha.

      • allewell on 15/06/2022 - 09:45

        Then you realise that motorbikes and scooters are now banned in most first tier cities in china, and if they catch you with one they take it from you

        • EightImmortals on 15/06/2022 - 09:53

          Since when?
          We saw plenty in Shanghai and Beijing and Xian?

      • DiscountForThee on 15/06/2022 - 10:06
        +2

        people were riding motorbikes and gasp pushbikes without helmets on

        Yeah, bring back the good old days before seatbelts and crumple zones on cars! People are too soft these days. We need more lead in our petrol, too

  • bmxr on 14/06/2022 - 19:52
    +3

    Not myself, but a good friend. Actually paid to rent it from an e-scooter rental place in Sydney with a thought to try it out before buying one for the commute to work. They did not advise him that it was illegal to use in NSW (can't imagine they'd be renting very many if they did tell people this!). Second day, riding through Rozelle, he got fined almost $2,000 and sought legal advice and did not challenge in court based on that advice, and paid the fines.

    On another note, I just got back from Adelaide and used the e-scooters to get everywhere! They would certainly be a mobility game-changer if they were legal to use in NSW.

    • dizzle on 14/06/2022 - 21:40

      I would think there may be a case against the rental company. However they probably have a liability waiver that states it was not to be used on public roads/paths that he signed without reading fully.

      They would certainly be a mobility game-changer if they were legal to use in NSW

      Seeing thier use in Brisbane a couple of years ago I would have thought you were right. However having come back after Covid, I think thier use is now almost non-existant. This is just my own experience, but walking through southbank/CBD I only see a couple in use now and not many waiting around to be used.

      • Clear on 14/06/2022 - 23:18
        +1

        Scooter community in QLD is huge. It's not uncommon to have 100+ group rides every few weeks around Brissie.

      • SnowDragon on 15/06/2022 - 10:51

        Just got back from Brisbane and you can't turn a corner without seeing an e-bike or e-scooter. They are great but when they zip past you at 30km/h with no warning it's a bit off putting.

        Certainly helps to live in a relatively flat city.

    • mskeggs on 14/06/2022 - 22:03
      +1

      I was in Radelaide last year, and agree they are fun and cool.
      I’m not sure why NSW is so bitterly opposed.

      • jv on 14/06/2022 - 23:19
        +3

        I’m not sure why NSW is so bitterly opposed.

        Very different footpath layouts…

        They work well in Adelaide CBD, Canberra etc. Not so well in Melbourne, Sydney…

    • Jason Genova on 15/06/2022 - 08:40
      +1

      he got fined almost $2,000

      love a feel good story

  • SF3 on 14/06/2022 - 20:38
    +1

    OP’s username checks out on the topic.

  • Clear on 14/06/2022 - 20:56
    +1

    Not in NSW and recently had some police officers joke that they'll take it for ride if I can bring it around to the station. I suggested we get some flashing lights for it.

  • paddyo on 14/06/2022 - 21:29

    Aren't they starting a trial in Sydney to use e-scooters?

    • Trance N Dance on 14/06/2022 - 21:54

      Starts in July for 3 months and will be council dependent on where you can ride it.

  • mskeggs on 14/06/2022 - 22:04
    +1

    My theory has been that people buy one, commute on it for a month or two, then get a warning or fine.
    So there are always people around the CBD riding them, but not heaps.

  • USER DC on 14/06/2022 - 22:33
    +2

    Did watch a ACA video on someone buying scooter from JB hifi, and riding it in NSW, only to get fined by cops

    • Sleeqb7 on 15/06/2022 - 10:38
      +3

      R U OK?

      • payless69 on 15/06/2022 - 10:39

        Yes I have a few manual scooters they are also fun!

    • pegaxs on 15/06/2022 - 16:40
      +1

      So Albo takes bribes from JB to tell you yes buy them it is all ok!

      LOL…. JB had them on sale when ScumMo was PM. Albo has had the top job for about a fortnight. I am pretty sure there are more pressing things to deal with than cutting back office deals with JB HiFi on selling scooters.

      If anything, it would have been the corrupt former government that was the one cutting deals to sell scooters.

      And anyway, fining people for illegal riding of these falls to the state government… So WTF has "aLbO" got to do with it…

  • brendanm on 15/06/2022 - 14:12

    I hired one of those random electric scooters on the side of the road today in Brisbane. I'm 80kg or so, and had about 20kg of gear, and it got along quite well.

  • askme69 on 15/06/2022 - 15:41

    Fine them all.

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