Hundreds of fines issued in e-scooter crackdown in Melbourne

Police have cracked down on e-scooter riders in Melbourne, with almost 300 infringements issued in recent days.

A majority of the infringements issued were for e-scooter riders failing to wear an approved bicycle helmet, which carries a penalty of $240.

Police said many riders were also caught using the footpath to get around, which saw them fined $192.

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Under the current e-scooter trial rules in Victoria, e-scooters can only be ridden on shared paths and roads that have a speed limit of 60km/h or less.

There were also infringements issued to e-scooter riders for failing to obey a red traffic light, carrying more than one person, and using an unregistered vehicle.

E-scooters capable of exceeding 25km/h are classified as unregistered motor vehicles and cannot be ridden anywhere other than private property in Victoria.

The penalty for using an unregistered motor vehicle is a hefty $962.

One e-scooter rider also refused a preliminary oral fluid test and will be charged and summoned to court, police said.

"We're seeing far too many riders involved in collisions with pedestrians on footpaths and around transport hubs, with some resulting in significant injuries," Victoria Police Transit Safety Division Acting Inspector Michael Tsaloumas said.

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