Burnaby RCMP say they will shift from an education-first approach to active ticketing for e-scooter and e-bike violations as part of targeted enforcement operations across the city.
New emphasis on compliance after education proved insufficient
The detachment plans to carry out enforcement in roughly a dozen locations in Burnaby, although exact times and places have not been disclosed. Media relations officer Cpl. Mike Kalanj told Freshet News the change follows mounting concerns about riders ignoring the rules and an increase in incidents involving kick scooters.
“Tickets are going to start flying … We are going to start writing tickets. You can only say a message so many times one way before you’ve got to start saying it a different way. Maybe they’ll start listening. And if they don’t, we’re going to keep giving tickets because this is getting worse by the day and we don’t want it to keep getting worse.”
Until now, Burnaby’s RCMP had prioritised education as the primary tool to bring riders into compliance with the provincial Kick Scooter Pilot Project rules. According to Kalanj, that strategy has not produced the necessary behavioural change.
Rules, penalties and youth enforcement
Under the pilot project that Burnaby joined earlier this year, e-scooter users are subject to several provincial regulations. Officers said they will continue to educate riders during enforcement operations but will also issue fines when they encounter infractions.
- Minimum age: no users under age 16
- Speed limit: 25 km/h
- No doubling: only one rider per device
- Helmet: mandatory use
- Audio: no headphone or earbud use while riding
The detachment noted one specific penalty it can issue under the regulations: a $109 fine for guardians who allow underage charges to ride illegally. Kalanj said officers encountering underaged riders will keep them at the scene and contact a parent or guardian to pick them up.
“We’re not letting these youth walk away until we have a responsible guardian there,” he said, signalling a shift toward immediate, on-scene accountability for families as well as riders.
Context: injuries and local incidents
National data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information show injuries involving e-scooters are increasing across Canada. Locally, Burnaby has already seen alarming incidents: in May, a collision on Hastings Street involving an e-scooter sent two children to hospital with serious injuries.
Police framed the stepped-up enforcement as an effort to curb what they describe as worsening non-compliance before it leads to further harm. Kalanj said issuing fines is intended to prompt conversations within families and communities about safety and responsibility.
| Measure | What it requires |
|---|---|
| Age | No users under 16 |
| Speed | 25 km/h limit |
| Riding | No doubling; helmet mandatory; no earbuds |
| Guardian penalty | $109 fine if guardian allows underage riding |
For Burnaby residents, the change means an increased police presence in known trouble spots and the possibility of immediate fines for riders and their guardians. The RCMP have not released a schedule for the targeted operations, but their warning is clear: education will continue, but it will be paired with enforcement.
As the city balances active transportation options with public safety, residents and families face a choice between stricter compliance and the consequences that follow non-compliance.
