Transport and Other Legislation (Managing E-mobility Use and Protecting Our Communities) Amendment Bill 2026

Overview

This bill introduces nation-leading reforms to regulate e-mobility devices in Queensland, responding to a near-doubling of injuries and 12 deaths in 2025. It sets a minimum rider age of 16 with a learner licence requirement, gives police powers to seize and destroy non-compliant devices, introduces drink-riding offences with random breath testing, and makes parents responsible when their children ride illegally.

Who it affects

E-scooter and e-bike riders face significant new rules including age limits, licensing requirements, footpath speed limits and drink-riding laws. Parents of children under 16 can be fined if their child rides illegally, and retailers are banned from selling e-mobility devices to under-16s.

Key changes

• Riders must be at least 16 years old and hold a learner licence to ride an e-bike or e-scooter in public
• Police can seize and destroy non-compliant e-mobility devices and unregistered motorbikes (prohibited bikes), with a 30-day review process and QCAT appeal rights
• Random breath testing introduced for e-scooter and bicycle riders aged 16+, with new low-range and mid-range drink-riding offences
• Parents face fines if their child under 16 rides an e-mobility device or prohibited bike illegally, unless they can prove they took reasonable steps to prevent it
• 10 km/h speed limit on all footpaths and shared paths for e-bikes and e-scooters (previously 12 km/h for PMDs, no limit for e-bikes)
• Sale of e-mobility devices to under-16s banned, with penalties up to 420 penalty units for repeat offenders
• E-bikes must comply with EN 15194 standard and carry a compliance label — six-month transition period for existing devices
• PMD maximum design speed reinstated at 25 km/h, with expanded road access up to 60 km/h roads
• Hooning and police evasion offences extended to e-mobility devices, with up to 5 years imprisonment for evading police