These devices, around 1.5 metres in length, are being used at checkpoints to ensure e-scooters do not exceed the legal speed limit of 20km/h.

At a recent operation on Bishop’s Quay, officers from the Garda Roads Policing Unit tested multiple scooters. One woman’s vehicle passed within minutes, while another, clocking in at 47 km/h, was seized. “It’s very fast – like being on the equivalent of a small moped,” said Garda Philip Ellard. “Anything over 20 km/h is illegal for road use.”


Inspector Padraig Sutton, leading the initiative, highlighted the growing issue of non-compliant e-scooters. He said that they can be a great transportation method when used properly, but within the jurisdiction, they have had “serious injury collisions and also fatalities as a result of e-scooter use.”

Since the rollout of the new regulations and equipment, the number of e-scooter seizures has surged – from 26 to 130 in just five months. Additionally, 406 Fixed Charge Notices (CNs) have been issued for offences like riding on footpaths, carrying passengers, or using mobile phones while operating scooters.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has praised the introduction of dynamometers, calling them a “tremendous development” that addressed long-standing enforcement challenges. With scooter ownership expected to double in the next year, RSA’s David Martin stressed the importance of safety: “One in four have had a crash in the past year. These tools will help ensure safer roads as usage increases.”