Police warn against stealing electricity after electric-car owner busted

Police have warned the public it is illegal to charge electric vehicles other than at approved recharging stations.

The warning comes after a motorist was charged and fined $500 for recharging a Polestar electric car from an electricity box on a private bushland block.

Western Australia Police said the owner was caught with the help of a hidden camera placed on the property, which showed the electric car plugged into the power-pole.

"[I] absolutely agree with issuing fines to people [stealing] electricity," one commenter wrote on Facebook, "but how about you also start issuing fines to [internal-combustion engine] vehicle owners who park in dedicated [electric vehicle] parking bays?"

While it's illegal for drivers of petrol and diesel cars to block electric-car charging bays in some states, it's understood Western Australia is yet to adopt similar laws.

MORE: NSW introduces fines for petrol and diesel cars parked in electric-car charging bays

Since 1 December 2020, motorists in Victoria could be fined up to $330 for unlawfully occupying a parking space marked for electric vehicles – nicknamed 'ICEing' due to the offenders typically having cars with internal-combustion engines.

Since February 2022, Queensland drivers have faced fines of $55 for illegally parking in recharging bays.

The practice was recently outlawed in New South Wales, with fines of up to $2200 for those blocking charging bays for electric cars.