{"id":19801,"date":"2026-02-08T03:06:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T03:06:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=19801"},"modified":"2026-02-08T03:06:01","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T03:06:01","slug":"nsw-police-to-seize-and-destroy-illegally-souped-up-ebikes-under-government-crackdown-new-south-wales-politics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=19801","title":{"rendered":"NSW police to seize and destroy illegally \u2018souped-up\u2019 ebikes under government crackdown | New South Wales politics"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

The NSW government has announced a \u201ccrackdown\u201d on illegally modified ebikes, with police to be given powers to seize and destroy any that exceed the legal speed limit.<\/p>\n

The transport minister, John Graham, announced on Sunday that new seizure laws will be developed to allow police to seize any ebike that does not cut power assistance at 25km\/h, with non-compliant bikes to be removed from the streets and crushed.<\/p>\n

The laws will apply to all illegally modified bikes \u2013 even if the owner was unaware their ebike was noncompliant.<\/p>\n

<\/figure>\n

The government will also invest in a number of \u201cdyno units\u201d \u2013 portable speed-testing devices \u2013 to measure an ebike\u2019s power output.<\/p>\n

The move is an expansion on the state\u2019s existing seizure laws, designed to remove high-powered cars and motorbikes from the road, which Graham said was a lengthy, complex process involving \u201ca lot of paperwork\u201d and \u201csimply won\u2019t work to get these electric motorcycles off our streets\u201d.<\/p>\n

Sign up: AU Breaking News email<\/sub><\/a><\/p>\n

It follows an incident on Wednesday in which about 40 ebikes and e-motorcycles swarmed the Sydney Harbour Bridge<\/a>. Footage posted online also shows riders \u2013 including those on so-called fat bikes<\/a> \u2013 travelling on the Western Distributor, and performing stunts.<\/p>\n

The NRMA has called for strong action against illegal ebike and e-scooters<\/a> and claimed that NSW faced a burgeoning \u201croad safety disaster\u201d. In 2024, there were 226 ebike-related injuries, while in the first seven months of 2025 there were 233 injuries and four deaths.<\/p>\n

Peter Khoury, an NRMA spokesperson, welcomed Sunday\u2019s annoucement.<\/p>\n

\u201cIts an expensive proposition to have the bike confiscated and crushed but paying for a funeral is more expensive,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Graham said the proposed laws were a direct response to community concern about \u201csouped-up ebikes and the antisocial behaviour that seems to go hand in hand with them\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cRiders and owners of illegal ebikes should now hear us loud and clear: if you are breaking the rules, and your bike does not meet the very clear specifications of a pedal-assisted ebike, expect it to be removed from your possession and crushed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIllegal bikes will end up as a twisted wreck so they can\u2019t rejoin the road. We will ensure ebikes behave as bicycles, not motorbikes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Graham said the NSW government said Transport<\/a> for NSW and NSW Police will develop the laws but will look to emulate those currently in place in Western Australia, where police have confiscated and crushed dozens of bikes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are modelling our laws on the Western Australian model, what they allow is a far quicker process, far more streamlined process, police will find far easier to do,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re engaged in the sort of aggravated behaviour that we\u2019ve seen on golf courses, across the Harbour Bridge, your bike will end up being crushed.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/figure>\n
<\/figure>\n

He said the changes were the \u201cstart\u201d of a broader package of reforms to ensure ebikes are \u201csafe, legal and fit for use on public roads and paths\u201d, with further measures to be announced in coming weeks. The NSW government had earlier committed to reducing the maximum legal power output of e-bikes to 250 watts, Graham said.<\/p>\n

The roads minister, Jenny Aitchison, said it was a \u201ccrackdown, plain and simple\u201d while police minister, Yasmin Catley, said the government was \u201cdrawing a line in the sand\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIllegal high-powered ebikes aren\u2019t harmless fun and anyone thinking they can slip under the radar should take this as their final warning. If your bike does not meet the rules, it will be destroyed,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n