E-bike riders have been put on notice after more than 170 fines were handed out in a two-day crackdown on the illegal devices in Sydney’s south.

NSW Police Superintendent Anthony Boyd said more than 300 e-bike riders were stopped, including e-scooter riders, during a police operation on Monday and Tuesday last week in the Sutherland Shire.

Under Operation E-Voltage, five e-bike riders tested positive for drugs.

a police officer issues a fine to an illegal e-bike rider

More than 170 fines were issued following last week’s crackdown. (Supplied: NSW Police)

There were at least five charges laid related to criminal offences and 21 that were traffic related.

“Some of the behaviour we are seeing is, silly. It’s dangerous,” Superintendent Boyd said.

“We need it to stop and we’re just putting everyone on notice with Operation E-Voltage that these operations are going to continue.”

On Wednesday a 14-year-old boy was caught riding an illegal e-bike, deemed to be a motorbike, on Sturt Road in Woolooware.

Police said he was provided with information about e-bike rules and was issued with a warning under the Young Offenders Act.

Less than an hour later highway patrol officers stopped a 25-year-old man riding an e-bike with no pedals on Denman Avenue in Woolooware.

He was issued with a Future Court Attendance Notice for driving while disqualified.

a police officer seizes an illegal e-bike as its owner sits on the ground in handcuffs

Police warn the crackdown under Operation E-Voltage will be ongoing. (Supplied: NSW Police)

Police said the the man was fined for having an unregistered and uninsured bike, and for not wearing a motorcycle helmet. He was also cautioned for riding on the footpath.

He allegedly tested positive in a roadside drug test, with a secondary test sent for analysis.

His bike was seized and he is due to appear in Sutherland Local Court on April 16.

“The feedback we’re getting from the community, from hospitals, from other organisations are that e-bikes are becoming an increasing problem,” Superintendent Boyd said.

“They’ve grown exponentially [in popularity] over recent years and some of the behaviour we’re seeing just isn’t acceptable.”

Strikeforce E-Voltage is aimed at disrupting and reducing the illegal and dangerous use of non-compliant e-bikes and associated anti-social behaviour.

Seize and destroy powers coming

Last month the government announced it was looking at introducing laws that would make it easier for police to seize and destroy e-bikes flouting the 25 kilometre per hour speed limit.

At the time, Transport Minister John Graham said the measures were about taking control of the illegal devices to prevent “antisocial” and dangerous behaviour that has at times resulted in serious injuries.

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The new laws have been modelled on similar powers given to Western Australian police.

Three portable “dyno” devices have been purchased to assist with enforcement.

The new speed detectors will be moved around the state to high-use areas detecting whether an e-bike’s power cuts off at 25km/h.

“We will be crushing bikes in New South Wales. We hope people will get the message,” Mr Graham said.

“There’s been a small number of bikes crushed in Western Australia. People have got the message.

“We hope to crush one bike and educate 1,000 but we’ll keep going until people get the message. 

“We need to get these illegal bikes off our roads.”