A 17-year-old boy has died after his electric dirt bike collided with a ute at Laceys Creek near Dayboro, placing renewed attention on Queensland’s newly introduced e-mobility laws. The fatal crash happened less than two weeks after tougher rules took effect, giving police expanded powers to target illegal and high-powered e-mobility devices and introducing stricter penalties for unsafe riding.
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The reforms, which came into effect on 1 July, introduced a 12km/h speed limit on footpaths, expanded police powers to seize illegal devices, random breath testing for riders and higher penalties for offences including riding without a helmet, carrying passengers illegally and dangerous riding. Since the laws began, police said one teenager has died and 22 people have been injured in e-mobility device crashes across Queensland.
Police said the crash happened about 12.15pm on 12 July, when a Talaria Sting electric dirt bike collided with a white Holden Colorado travelling in the opposite direction on Laceys Creek Road. The rider, a 17-year-old Rothwell boy, suffered life-threatening injuries and was flown to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, where he later died. The 55-year-old driver from Laceys Creek was not injured. The Forensic Crash Unit is continuing to investigate the circumstances of the collision.
New Laws Begin Rolling Out
Police Minister Dan Purdie said the tougher penalties were intended to deter dangerous riding, saying too many people continued to be injured on e-mobility devices. He also acknowledged the death of another young person following the crash near Dayboro.
Queensland Police are also reporting early signs that the new rules are influencing rider behaviour. Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman said frontline officers regularly witnessed the devastating consequences of serious crashes and that the impact extended well beyond those directly involved, affecting families, emergency responders and local communities. He said police were already seeing encouraging changes in rider compliance.
Between 1 and 12 July, officers conducted 120 random breath tests on e-mobility riders across the state. More than 100 illegal devices were seized and more than 420 infringement notices were issued during the same period.
Helmet offences accounted for the largest number of fines, with 243 riders penalised. Seven people were charged with riding under the influence of alcohol, including one e-scooter rider detected just minutes after the new laws took effect. Police also charged two riders in Rockhampton for travelling together on the same e-scooter without helmets along a main road.
Under the current penalties, riders found over the legal blood alcohol limit can face fines exceeding $500, while the maximum court-imposed penalty is $6,908.
Police also reported a significant reduction in illegal high-powered e-mobility devices being used on Queensland roads and paths since the expanded enforcement powers came into effect. Assistant Commissioner Wildman said the early results suggested many riders had responded positively to the changes, with widespread improvements in behaviour already being observed.
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Further reforms are scheduled to begin on 31 August. Most riders will then need to hold a driver licence or learner permit. Exemptions will apply for eligible people with certain medical conditions or disabilities, while riders aged 12 to 17 will only be permitted to use e-mobility devices under parental supervision.
Published 14-July-2026
