6 points for riding an electric unicycle on the pavement

[ngdragon]

Something doesn't seem right here?
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/man-e...

[anonymous-user]

yes a unicycle has 1 wheel.

[TooMany2cvs]

ngdragon said:

Something doesn't seem right here?
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/man-e...

Why not?

He's using a motorised vehicle on a public right of way.
It doesn't fit into any class of motorised vehicle that can be used legally on a pavement, or without insurance or registration.

[Vipers]

Wouldn't a cution have been better. Points seem excessive, some motoring offences get less.

[TooMany2cvs]

Vipers said:

Wouldn't a cution have been better. Points seem excessive, some motoring offences get less.

Lack of insurance - which is what he was found guilty of - doesn't ever get fewer points. That's the minimum.

£180 fine is hardly ridiculous for lack of insurance, is it?

[Dave Hedgehog]

The law is totally out of date for these low speed personal transport devices, applying car laws to them is nuts.

[4rephill]

Vipers said:

Wouldn't a cution have been better. Points seem excessive, some motoring offences get less.

It was more than likely 3 points for driving a motorised vehicle on the pavement and 3 point for no insurance.

Why would a caution be better? - The guy was committing motoring offences for which there are set punishments that have been applied.

He either couldn't be arsed to check out the legalities of riding this vehicle on the pavement, or he knew he was in the wrong but took the chance he wouldn't get caught and it backfired on him big time.

6 points on his licence now? - Tough st! as far as I'm concerned.

[TooMany2cvs]

Dave Hedgehog said:

The law is totally out of date for these low speed personal transport devices, applying car laws to them is nuts.

They aren't applying "car laws". They're applying the same laws as apply to ALL motorised vehicles - internal combustion AND electric, including electric bicycles and mobility buggies - which clearly specify what a motorised vehicle needs to be like to fit into specific categories - and which of those categories are exempt from licensing/registering/insuring.

4rephill said:

He either couldn't be arsed to check out the legalities of riding this vehicle on the pavement, or he knew he was in the wrong but took the chance he wouldn't get caught and it backfired on him big time.

This. With bells on.

[98elise]

TooMany2cvs said:

Dave Hedgehog said:

The law is totally out of date for these low speed personal transport devices, applying car laws to them is nuts.

They aren't applying "car laws". They're applying the same laws as apply to ALL motorised vehicles - internal combustion AND electric, including electric bicycles and mobility buggies - which clearly specify what a motorised vehicle needs to be like to fit into specific categories - and which of those categories are exempt from licensing/registering/insuring.

4rephill said:

He either couldn't be arsed to check out the legalities of riding this vehicle on the pavement, or he knew he was in the wrong but took the chance he wouldn't get caught and it backfired on him big time.

This. With bells on.

I'd prefer that the law treated anything that poses no more risk than a bike to be treated in a similar way. These are an efficient and clean way to get around a major city.

Laws can be changed when technology moves on, otherwise we would still be riding horses.

Until they change though, the person has broken the law.

[timbo999]

You can't ride a bike (as in cycle) on the pavement either...

[Jazzy Jag]

What's the difference between riding an electric bicycle, which needs no licence tax insurance or MOT and riding an electric unicycle.?

IIRC there is a legal definition for the electric bicycle in terms of speed power output etc.

[Jim1556]

Utterly fking ridiculous!

My 9 yr old daughter has an electric scooter that she rides in our quiet cul-de-sac. Technically, it's probably illegal on and off the path, but seriously? She could probably be charged or at least have it confiscated...

Laws need updating... A battery assisted toy/cycle is NOT a motor vehicle in any reasonable sense!

[ngdragon]

But you don't get points on a driving licence for anything you do on a cycle. Don't disagree with the fine but what if he hadn't had a licence- no points?

[TooMany2cvs]

98elise said:

I'd prefer that the law treated anything that poses no more risk than a bike to be treated in a similar way.

Two separate sets of mechanical brakes, audible warning? Oops, this has no mechanical brakes, and probably no audible warning.
If it's electrically powered, a 250w max power output? Oops, the AirWheel Q3 is 800w.

Should it be regarded the same as a pavement-legal mobility scooter? 4mph top speed? Ooops, this is 7.5mph. 8mph mobility scooters need to be registered and insured, and can only be used above 4mph when on the road, not the pavement.

98elise said:

These are an efficient and clean way to get around a major city.

No, they aren't. They're a risible fashion-toy.
http://www.techradar.com/reviews/gadgets/appliance...

And let's not forget that the numpty in the article got nicked after falling off and a "dispute" with a motorist. So... did he tonk across the road without looking and hit a car? Or hit a parked car? What if it'd been your car?

[TooMany2cvs]

Jim1556 said:

Laws need updating... A battery assisted toy/cycle is NOT a motor vehicle in any reasonable sense!

http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/eu/

[eldar]

If it had a top speed of 4MPH he would have been OK? I assume the 4 or 8 MPH thing is design speed rather than actual speed?

[TooMany2cvs]

eldar said:

If it had a top speed of 4MPH he would have been OK?

No, because it doesn't fit any of the other criteria for a "class 2 invalid carriage", which is the legal term for a mobility scooter.
https://www.gov.uk/mobility-scooters-and-powered-w...

Oh, and let's not forget it's illegal to use a bicycle or electric bicycle on the pavement, anyway, so even if we were treating it the same as a bicycle, he's still a raging bell-end.

[ngdragon]

Jim1556 said:

Utterly fking ridiculous!

My 9 yr old daughter has an electric scooter that she rides in our quiet cul-de-sac. Technically, it's probably illegal on and off the path, but seriously? She could probably be charged or at least have it confiscated...

Laws need updating... A battery assisted toy/cycle is NOT a motor vehicle in any reasonable sense!

Better get her some insurance......she can start building up a ncb early!

[750turbo]

TooMany2cvs said:

eldar said:

If it had a top speed of 4MPH he would have been OK?

No, because it doesn't fit any of the other criteria for a "class 2 invalid carriage", which is the legal term for a mobility scooter.
https://www.gov.uk/mobility-scooters-and-powered-w...

Oh, and let's not forget it's illegal to use a bicycle or electric bicycle on the pavement, anyway, so even if we were treating it the same as a bicycle, he's still a raging bell-end.

Do you have to be so fking grumpy ALL the time, it is very tiring now.

[eldar]

TooMany2cvs said:

No, because it doesn't fit any of the other criteria for a "class 2 invalid carriage", which is the legal term for a mobility scooter.
https://www.gov.uk/mobility-scooters-and-powered-w...

Oh, and let's not forget it's illegal to use a bicycle or electric bicycle on the pavement, anyway, so even if we were treating it the same as a bicycle, he's still a raging bell-end.

Bell end he may be. From your link there is no definition of what constitutes a class 2 invalid carriage in terms of number of wheels, and no definition of 'disabled' that allows use of one.

There is also no requirement for a driving licence for either class 2 or 3.

All good fun