Careless e-scooter riders face hefty fines and possible jail time under new proposed laws in Queensland.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey on Thursday announced the crackdown on e-scooters and personal mobility devices (PMD), saying careless riders can expect a court appearance rather than an on-the-spot fine.
Magistrates can impose a maximum fine of more than $6000.
Any users riding without due care and attention on footpaths, bike paths or shared paths face offences under laws introduced in state parliament by Mr Bailey.
"The key to regulating new technology is making sure that shared spaces like footpaths, bike ways, shared paths are as safe as they can be for everyone," Mr Bailey told parliament.
"Dangerous personal mobility device riders won't receive an on the spot fine if they're riding carelessly, instead they will have a date with a magistrate."
The maximum fine of $6192 that magistrates can impose would only apply at the most extreme end of offending, he said.
There is also a provision for jail time in instances where a person has been seriously injured or killed due to another person's reckless use of an e-scooter or PMD.
"That would be an option for a magistrate because someone has been that disrespectful of other people resulting in someone dying or permanently maimed," Mr Bailey said.
The new laws will also enforce PMD and e-scooter users involved in an incident to remain at the scene, render any medical assistance and exchange relevant information.
These obligations do not currently apply to PMD users on roads and paths.
Protections for vulnerable people who may not be able to exchange personal information with others involved in crashes are also part of the legislative reforms.
These apply to any person who feels that exchanging their personal information may expose them to harm and allows for them to report the crash to the police instead.
"These new laws build on the work that we've done over the past 12 months and ensure consistency for all drivers and riders," Mr Bailey said.
Last year, the government introduced a lower speed limit of 12km/h for e-scooters and other mobility devices like e-skateboards on shared paths, while a 25km/h limit applies on bike paths and roads.
