Nearly 90 vehicles, including e-scooters and e-bikes, seized by gardaí in Dublin operation

Dublin authorities have intensified efforts to curb the illegal use of e-bikes and e-scooters, seizing almost 90 vehicles in a "high-impact day of action" across the city. Operation Meacán, conducted by gardaí, involved 74 searches and resulted in five arrests, alongside the confiscation of 75 e-bikes and e-scooters, seven Surron bikes, four scrambler motorcycles, and three quad vehicles.

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There is an organisational focus on ensuring that we do as much as we can with the legislation that we have.

Beyond the vehicles, the operation uncovered significant illicit items, including approximately €8,000 in cash, suspected drugs valued at over €100,000, and a sawn-off shotgun with ammunition. A man in his 20s was arrested in connection with the firearm, while others were detained for drug-related offenses and on foot of a bench warrant. Det Supt Jason Miley highlighted the extensive police involvement and the organizational focus on addressing e-scooter usage within existing legislation.

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There was an opportunity for those who use e-scooters to “get themselves road-ready and road-legal”.

Superintendent Liam Geraghty encouraged e-scooter users to comply with new regulations, noting that many retailers are now removing sales of models that exceed the 20km/h speed limit or are marketed towards children. Gardaí are employing portable dynamometers at checkpoints to verify e-scooter speeds. New regulations effective since August mandate hi-viz jackets and helmets, extend the age ban to under-18s, and will require licenses and registration for all e-scooter users from September.

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Society would be “better off” without them.

The crackdown aligns with broader concerns about e-scooter usage. Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly has previously expressed agreement with calls for a ban, and Taoiseach Micheál Martin indicated he is "leaning towards" a total ban following incidents involving young people that resulted in fatalities and serious injuries. Operation Meacán specifically targets the use of these electric vehicles in criminal activities such as drug distribution, money laundering, and firearms transport.

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I was “leaning towards” introducing a total ban on the machines after a series of incidents involving young people resulted in deaths and serious injuries.