Tuesday 4 October 2022 02:15 AM Victoria police e-scooter bitz after Moustafa Abou-Eid dies a month after Laura ... trends now
Illegal e-scooters are being snatched from the street and impounded by police as part of a major crackdown, with fines of nearly $1,000 for those caught riding them.
Victoria Police launched the clampdown after a 28-year-old man died when he fell off his electric scooter.
Moustafa Abou-Eid died in hospital on Friday, more than a week after he lost control of his e-scooter when it went over a speed bump.
Police have since been targeting scooters in Melbourne, particularly in the inner-city suburb of Brunswick, in the first of several planned blitzes across the state.
In Victoria privately-owned e-scooters which can travel more than 10km/h or emit more than 200 watts are illegal.
Moustafa Abou-Eid (pictured) died in hospital on Friday, more than a week after he lost control of his e-scooter as it went over a speed bump
Victoria Police Acting Inspector Darren Kenos revealed several e-scooter riders had already been stung this week (pictured, an illegal scooter being seized in Brunswick, Melbourne)
Those caught riding them can cop a $925 fine and have their e-scooter impounded.
To get it back after 30 days it will cost the owner a further $900.
Victoria Police Acting Inspector Darren Kenos went on 3AW revealing several e-scooter riders had already been stung this week.
'To be honest, we are tired of having to go to families and let them know that their family member has sustained life-threatening injuries or died as a result of riding these e-scooters,' Mr Kenos said.
'These e-scooters are capable of doing speeds of 50km/h plus and the margin for error is very small.
'If you do come off you will sustain serious injuries, if not lose your life, and I don't think it's worth it, to be honest.'
Speaking on the circumstances surrounding Mr Abou-Eid's death, Inspector Kenos said: 'He hit the road and unfortunately wasn't wearing a helmet. This brings the reality of the danger of these scooters to us' (pictured, a scooter being seized in Melbourne)
In Victoria privately-owned e-scooters which have the capabilities to travel more than 10km/h or emit more than 200 watts are illegal
Mahmoud Abou-Eid said his brother (pictured) was 'a very loving person'. 'You can't find another person like him, the heart and soul he had was very rare,' Mahmoud Abou-Eid said
Speaking on the circumstances surrounding Mr Abou-Eid's death, Inspector Kenos said: 'He hit the road [and] unfortunately wasn't wearing a helmet. This brings the reality of the danger of these scooters to us.'
Mr Abou-Eid was illegally riding the device without a helmet around 8.20am on September 22 on Cornwall Rd, Pascoe Vale in Melbourne's north.
He was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries but died on Friday night.
Mahmoud Abou-Eid told the Herald Sun his brother owned the e-scooter but barely
