A few people waiting for takeout in Aberdeen, Scotland, recently had an unexpected person show up at the door with their food. Police officers completed two food deliveries after taking illegal e-bikes away from the riders carrying the orders.
The meals were already on their way when officers seized the bikes. According to The Scottish Sun, officers put the delivery bags in patrol vehicles and took the food the rest of the way.
Both seizures happened during a joint operation involving Police Scotland and the Home Office. Officers spent five evenings patrolling Aberdeen between Aug. 17 and Sept. 4.
By the end of the operation, police seized 11 e-bikes. Police also charged 12 people with road traffic offenses and three people with immigration offenses.
Police Took the Food the Rest of the Way
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Police Scotland North East shared a photo of an officer entering a building with a large blue Deliveroo bag.
Police said members of the Community Action Team made the deliveries nearby so the customers would not go without the food they had ordered. Someone commented on the Facebook post, “Imagine how confused you’d be if you ordered a takeaway and the police turned up. Hope they made lots of tips.”
Some E-Bikes Are Treated Like Motorcycles
Having a motor does not automatically make an e-bike illegal in the United Kingdom. Someone aged 14 or older can ride a qualifying electrically assisted pedal cycle without a license, insurance, registration or vehicle tax.
However, the bike must still follow several rules. The UK government says it must have working pedals, while its motor can produce no more than 250 watts of continuous power and cannot exceed 15.5 mph.
An e-bike that falls outside those requirements is treated as a motorcycle or moped. Then, the rider may need a driving license and a motorcycle helmet, while the vehicle has to be registered, taxed, and insured. Police Scotland did not say which requirement each seized bike failed.
E-Bikes in Other Areas Are Being Seized Too
On Sept. 3, several e-bikes were taken from food delivery workers in Mansfield, England after police discovered the bikes used illegal motors to make them go faster.
PC Kevin Marshall said his team has received several complaints about modified e-bikes in the town center. He believes the extra speed creates a danger for pedestrians and for the people riding them.