Italian cities prepare checks on illegal e-bikes, with fines up to €15,000

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  Several Italian municipalities are preparing to use «bici-velox» devices to check whether electric bicycles meet legal technical requirements.

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  The devices use a roller-equipped platform to test a bicycle’s power and operating speed; they are not speed cameras that photograph fast cyclists.

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  Assoutenti and Fiab estimate that 1.8 million e-bikes are in circulation in Italy, a 50% increase over five years.

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  The associations say that, in checks conducted by police over the past year in some Italian cities, eight out of every ten e-bikes inspected were irregular; this figure does not represent the national fleet.

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  An e-bike that exceeds the legal requirements is treated as a moped and may be subject to registration, a number plate, insurance and helmet requirements.

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  Fines for violations can reach €15,000, and the vehicle may be seized; the reported maximum may involve multiple violations rather than one automatic penalty.

Who

Several Italian municipalities, with information from Assoutenti and Fiab; Fiab president Luigi Menna and Assoutenti president Gabriele Melluso.

What

Municipalities are preparing checks on e-bikes using roller-platform «bici-velox» devices, with fines and possible vehicle seizure for violations.

When

Reported on 10 October 2026; police checks cited by the associations took place over the previous year.

Where

Several cities in Italy; Parma is identified as one municipality preparing the devices.

Why

To detect e-bikes modified to exceed legal power or speed limits and enforce the rules that apply to vehicles classified as mopeds.

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