‘Not much we can do’: Queensland traffic cops losing the battle against electric dirt bikes

“They know they don’t have to stop so they just ride off”: Senior traffic cops on the Gold Coast say they have few shots in their chamber when it comes to the increasing brazenness of electric dirt bike riders.

A stolen electric Sur-Ron motorcycle being ridden on the footpath in the Palm Beach area. Picture: Facebook

Senior traffic cops on the Gold Coast say they are losing the battle when it comes to policing electric motorcycles – particularly dirt-bike style vehicles – with non-compliant riders cottoning on to the fact that if they can outrun officers, they are unlikely to face consequences.

While popular backlash against irresponsible e-bike usage in the region continues to grow – recent cases include a teenage pair dousing a pedestrian in what they claimed to be urine at Coolangatta, and two young boys being hospitalised in separate collisions at Tugun – Gold Coast Highway Patrol officers told this masthead it is electric motorbikes that are proving hardest to counteract.

Leading Senior Constable Nick White told this masthead electric dirt-bike style vehicles – such as Talarias and Sur-Rons – were a “massive issue” for local law enforcement, with maximum speeds approaching 85km/h on some models.

Electric motorcycles such as Sur-Rons (pictured) and Talarias are causing terrible problems for law enforcement, Gold Coast Highway Patrol officers say. Picture: QPS

“Groups of kids are riding all our major arterials, doing monos at intersections, evading police, it’s out of control,” he said.

“I’m not sure whether these kids’ parents are cognisant of the fact they are highly illegal. To drive on the road you need to be registered, pay CTP, be licensed for the vehicle you are driving.

“If you as a parent are permitting your kids to commit serious traffic offences, you can get charged as a party.”

Senior Constable Tim McCormack agreed things were getting out of control.

“The issue we’ve got is that no-one has any rego attached to it so you can’t ID the vehicle,” he said.

“You try to pull them over, light up, but they know they don’t have to stop so they just ride off.

“If we try to get them, pursue them, we get in trouble.

Gold Coast Highway Patrol Senior Constables Will Reid and Tim McCormack. Picture: Alex Treacy

“We’ve got that many complaints about these things, but until legislation or policies change, there’s not much we can do.”

While some models of electric dirt bike are able to be registered for public road use in Queensland – particularly newer ones – many are not as they are non-compliant with the Australian Design Rules.

A Transport and Main Roads (TMR) spokeswoman said they were aware of community concerns surrounding the devices.

“TMR is currently working with the Queensland Police Service to help educate the community on the rules for e-bikes and electric motorcycles,” she said.

“TMR is aware that in some areas, such as the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, there are increasing numbers of illegal devices being used, creating safety concerns for the community.

“TMR is committed to working with police to get these illegal devices off our paths and roads to help everyone feel safe.”

Fines for various breaches involving the use on public roads of unregistered electric motorbikes ranged from $96 (riding on a path) to $537 (not holding a motorcycle licence).