Before you consider buying an e-scooter this Christmas, it’s important to know that although you can buy one, it is illegal to use a privately owned e-scooter in any public space.
That’s the message from the Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership ahead of the festive period.
The partnership is warning that Warwickshire Police has legal powers to seize e-scooters and prosecute riders – citing that between March 2020 and November 2021 31 machines were seized in the county.
While penalties for illegal use include a Fixed Penalty Notice for no insurance, with a £300 fine and six penalty points, officers will also be using Section 59 of the Police Reform Act to issue a warning to riders of e-scooters and educate them as to the legal requirements.
If a rider is under 16 years old then this advice will also be given to the parents.
Inspector Jem Mountford, Warwickshire Police, said: “Before you consider buying an e-scooter this Christmas it’s important to know that although you can buy one, it is illegal to use a privately owned e-scooter in any public space.
“[That includes] roads, pavements, parks, town centres or canal towpaths for example. This means most people will be breaking the law if they use an e-scooter.
“As well as being illegal, we have real concerns about the safety of e-scooters. In the first ten months of 2021, nationally there have been nine deaths and other casualties involving both e-scooter riders and other road users.”
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