Ten people were fined during a one-day police operation focused on e-scooter offences in Shepparton and Mooroopna.

Four Shepparton and Benalla police highway patrol units hit the Shepparton central business district area, as well as Mooroopna streets, on Monday, September 29, as part of a blitz on e-scooter riders who were doing the wrong thing.

Six riders were fined for not wearing a helmet, while one passenger was also fined for not wearing a helmet.

One person was also fined for dinking a passenger, when the law says only one person is allowed on an e-scooter.

Two people also received fines for riding on footpaths.

It was a costly wake-up-call for those who were fined.

Riders not wearing a helmet are fined $407, while passengers not wearing a helmet face a $661 fine.

There is also a $254 fine for a passenger on an e-scooter, and a $296 fine for anyone caught riding on the footpath.

About four other scooter riders were given cautions during Operation Boot, and police will contact some parents.

Eight car drivers were also detected during the wrong thing during the operation, with two having their cars impounded.

Police Eastern Region Division Three Highway Patrol Acting Senior Sergeant Mark Phillips said fines were so high because e-scooters were considered a motor vehicle under some circumstances.

He said the worst thing police saw on the day was a “homemade” e-scooter — a normal scooter with a battery pack added to make it motorised — that did not have any brakes or lights.

He said a lot of people were not aware of the laws surrounding e-scooters, including that they were not allowed to be able to go more than 25km/h, and even then, riders were limited to a maximum speed of 20km/h.

They also cannot be ridden on roads with a speed limit of more than 60km/h, and must not be ridden on footpaths.

Riders also have to be under a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05 or they can be charged for drink-driving.

They also must only be ridden by people aged over 16.

Act Sen Sgt Phillips said the crackdown on e-scooters was something local police would do more of.

“If you use them on footpaths or around people near shops, it’s dangerous,” he said.

“The community has expressed concerns.

“We’ve seen it, and said enough’s enough.”

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