The Vienna police conducted a focused operation targeting e-scooter and bicycle riders on Thursday, during which they apprehended an individual with 172 outstanding fines totaling over 20,000 euros. The person was detained after being stopped by officers from the city's traffic department, who discovered the extensive list of unpaid penalties. These included numerous violations related to road traffic offenses. According to the police, the individual could not settle these debts and was taken into custody and transported to a police holding center. Police spokesperson Philipp Haßlinger described the case as extraordinary due to the sheer number of outstanding fines. Details regarding whether the individual was riding an e-scooter or a bicycle were not immediately available. During the operation, authorities also seized several modified e-scooters that exceeded legal speed limits. During roll tests, speeds up to 79 kilometers per hour were recorded, more than three times the legally permitted maximum of 25 kilometers per hour. Other scooters had top speeds ranging from 68 km/h down to 39 km/h. As a result of these findings, administrative criminal charges were filed against the scooter owners. In total, 136 summonses were issued during the checks, while 46 reports were filed for traffic law violations. Most of these infractions involved running red lights, using mobile phones while cycling, and riding on sidewalks or pedestrian zones. Earlier this week, on Tuesday, the police announced that a 15-year-old boy had fled from officers on his e-scooter in the Favoriten district. This occurred during a special operation targeting juvenile crime, following the observation of an unknown object being passed between him and another teenager. After ignoring multiple stop orders, the youth escaped, prompting a police officer to fire two warning shots into loose earth near a green area. Although the teenager initially evaded capture, he was later found in the vicinity of Favoritenstraße and arrested. Authorities identified the boy as an Afghan national. During the chase, 17 traffic violations were recorded. A roll test revealed the e-scooter reached a speed of 41 km/h. A quick court imposed an immediate fine of 5,260 euros. Additionally, investigations are ongoing under suspicion of drug-related offenses. New regulations concerning e-scooters will take effect in the Vienna public transport system starting September 1st. According to the Wiener Linien, the rules align with existing bicycle regulations. From this date onward, carrying e-scooters on buses and trams will be prohibited entirely, even when folded. This decision stems from concerns over space requirements and the need to facilitate smoother passenger transitions. Electrically powered scooters are subject to these restrictions, whereas manually operated scooters can still be carried anywhere when folded. In underground trains, the transportation of e-scooters will remain permissible but limited to non-peak hours, similar to bicycles. Permitted times include weekdays from 9 AM to 3 PM and from 6:30 PM until service ends, while weekends and holidays allow unrestricted carriage throughout the day. Priority is given to wheelchairs and baby strollers, and only two wheels or scooters can be placed per boarding area. These changes aim to address complaints from passengers feeling obstructed in crowded carriages. With approximately 2.5 million daily passengers, the measures seek to enhance comfort and safety. Those violating the new conditions, such as riding e-scooters on platforms or escalators, face a fine of 50 euros. From Monday, September 1st, new rules governing e-scooters will apply within the Vienna public transport network. The transportation of e-scooters aboard buses and streetcars will be completely prohibited, even when folded. This restriction is based on space considerations and efforts to streamline passenger movement. In contrast, manually operated scooters, which occupy significantly less space when folded, can continue to be transported at all times in all vehicles of the Vienna transport company. Individuals who violate these new transportation conditions, such as bringing e-scooters onto platforms or using escalators with them, should expect a fine of 50 euros. Furthermore, e-scooters must be pushed rather than ridden within the facilities of the Vienna transport company. The use of escalators with bicycles or e-scooters has been banned for safety reasons. The implementation of these rules follows a legal change in Austria, which classified e-scooters as vehicles since May 1st, 2026. According to the Vienna transport company, e-scooters occupy roughly the same amount of space as bicycles in public transport.
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