This is the largest seizure of Ebikes carried out on the national territory within two sales points. The vehicles are equipped with irregularly powered engines and lack the necessary documentation that must accompany their sale
The soldiers of the Guardia di Finanza and agents of the Local Police, in a joint operation, seized a Verona 295 pedal-assisted electric bicycles and a Pakistani and an Indian citizen were reported for fraud in the exercise of trade. This is the largest seizure of E-bikes carried out on the entire national territory, the result of collaboration between the two police bodies. Pedal-assisted electric bicycles are subject to the European Directive 2006/42/EC (so-called Machinery Directive) which regulates their production with the conformity, safety and health protection requirements essential for their placing on the market, and documentation proving regularity must accompany the sale of these E-bikes. The police bodies noted the absence of this documentation in the two shops under investigation, in addition to the improvement of the engines and performance of the bicycles. The vehicles found were therefore seized, with an estimated value of approximately 300 thousand eurosas well as the imposition of administrative sanctions for approximately 11,400 euros connected to multiple violations of the Highway Code and provisions relating to the commerce sector. Further reports were sent to Spisal and the Installations sector of the Municipality of Verona for structural and safety deficiencies in the workplace, as well as to the Privacy Guarantor for irregularities in the video surveillance systems.
tight controls
—
The operation is part of the interventions already launched in the previous weeks, which had led to the seizure of bicycles directly on the road: the objective remains that of protecting fair competition and consumers, promoting greater awareness of the importance of purchasing products that comply with quality and safety standards. The activity also takes on importance from the point of view of road safety: the seizure of Ebikes deemed irregular aims to prevent the circulation of potentially dangerous vehicles, to protect not only the users, who are also exposed to the risk of heavy fines, but also the most vulnerable road users. It remains understood that the criminal responsibility of the reported subjects can only be ascertained at the outcome of the judicial proceedings, in compliance with the principle of presumption of innocence enshrined in Article 27 of the Constitution.