Gardaí have seized a number of e-scooters, e-bikes and a scrambler from people adjudged to have driven them dangerously in West Dublin.
This comes after a drone from a newly established Garda Drone Unit was used for the first time as part of yesterday's operation. This operation was led by the Dublin Crime Response Team.
The drone was able to identify and follow people on e-scooters. In one case, a person was tracked down to a house where they were arrested in the garden. Other people abandoned the e-scooters and ran from Gardaí.
As part of the Garda operation, Meacán, eleven e-scooters, two e-bikes and one scrambler were seized. This operation was also set up in order to tackle the use of electric motorbikes, e scooters and e-bikes in public areas.
Gardaí have also said that these vehicles were being used of criminal activity, including the distribution of drugs, transporting firearms, money laundering, as well as drug related intimidation and other serious criminal offences.
As a result of the seizing of these vehicles, a man and a teenager were arrested and charged, while a number of drivers were stopped by Gardaí as part of patrols carried out in Finglas and Blanchardstown.
The man who was arrested has been bailed to attend court on a later date, while the teenager is being referred to the Garda National Youth Diversion Buereau.
News of this also comes after the Government agreed to proposals banning the use of e-scooters for anyone under the age of 18.
This happened after a meeting was held between the Taoiseach, Minister for Justice and Minister of State for Transport and Garda Commissioner. More on this from Nova here.
It was also confirmed that the cost of recovering a scrambler by An Garda Síochána was to double from next month, following new rules which were signed into law by Sean Canney, the Minister of State for Road Transport. Theses rules will take effect from August 14. More here.
