Electric Scooters - Police Enforcement
Discussion
I'm under increasing pressure from younger members of my household to add an electric scooter to our stable of cars, motorcycles and bicyles.
I believe I'm aware of the legal position of using an e-scooter on the highway (ie they're technically electric motorbikes and as such require type approval, registration, VED (or whatever road tax is called now!), insurance and appropriate licence category). As such a police officer if so minded could report me for enough offences to earn me a totting up ban and make my insurance premiums on my other vehicles stratospheric, even if I was riding an e-scooter sensibly.
I'm also aware though that the use of e-scooters rather than motor vehicles seems to be increasingly viewed by the Government as a good thing, trials of legalised e-scooter hire schemes are ongoing and I repeatedly see the police being completely unconcerned as e-scooters are ridden past them.
I would like to believe that the guidance being given to police officers is to enforce the law for e-scooter riders in the same way as they do for cyclists.
Does anyone know what guidance is being given to the police as to e-scooters ?
I know this has been discussed before - but the World has changed for obvious reasons since the 2019 posts I read on the subject.
I believe I'm aware of the legal position of using an e-scooter on the highway (ie they're technically electric motorbikes and as such require type approval, registration, VED (or whatever road tax is called now!), insurance and appropriate licence category). As such a police officer if so minded could report me for enough offences to earn me a totting up ban and make my insurance premiums on my other vehicles stratospheric, even if I was riding an e-scooter sensibly.
I'm also aware though that the use of e-scooters rather than motor vehicles seems to be increasingly viewed by the Government as a good thing, trials of legalised e-scooter hire schemes are ongoing and I repeatedly see the police being completely unconcerned as e-scooters are ridden past them.
I would like to believe that the guidance being given to police officers is to enforce the law for e-scooter riders in the same way as they do for cyclists.
Does anyone know what guidance is being given to the police as to e-scooters ?
I know this has been discussed before - but the World has changed for obvious reasons since the 2019 posts I read on the subject.
My understanding - which may, or may not be correct with recent changes - is that you can only ride hired e-scooters in the U.K., not privately owned ones, and the hire of them is only permitted in some specific areas.
You need a driver's licence of some description.
You can get points and fines for offences related to using one.
You need a driver's licence of some description.
You can get points and fines for offences related to using one.
I've not seen any recent policy, but don't forget the Police could also use their powers to seize the un-insured vehicle too.
It would be probably nigh impossible to get an insurance policy with which to claim back the seized scooter, so it would be lost for good. Something else to factor into the risk.
It would be probably nigh impossible to get an insurance policy with which to claim back the seized scooter, so it would be lost for good. Something else to factor into the risk.
Seight_Returns said:
I'm under increasing pressure from younger members of my household to add an electric scooter to our stable of cars, motorcycles and bicyles.
I believe I'm aware of the legal position of using an e-scooter on the highway (ie they're technically electric motorbikes and as such require type approval, registration, VED (or whatever road tax is called now!), insurance and appropriate licence category). As such a police officer if so minded could report me for enough offences to earn me a totting up ban and make my insurance premiums on my other vehicles stratospheric, even if I was riding an e-scooter sensibly.
I'm also aware though that the use of e-scooters rather than motor vehicles seems to be increasingly viewed by the Government as a good thing, trials of legalised e-scooter hire schemes are ongoing and I repeatedly see the police being completely unconcerned as e-scooters are ridden past them.
I would like to believe that the guidance being given to police officers is to enforce the law for e-scooter riders in the same way as they do for cyclists.
Does anyone know what guidance is being given to the police as to e-scooters ?
I know this has been discussed before - but the World has changed for obvious reasons since the 2019 posts I read on the subject.
You are totally incorrect I'm afraid.I believe I'm aware of the legal position of using an e-scooter on the highway (ie they're technically electric motorbikes and as such require type approval, registration, VED (or whatever road tax is called now!), insurance and appropriate licence category). As such a police officer if so minded could report me for enough offences to earn me a totting up ban and make my insurance premiums on my other vehicles stratospheric, even if I was riding an e-scooter sensibly.
I'm also aware though that the use of e-scooters rather than motor vehicles seems to be increasingly viewed by the Government as a good thing, trials of legalised e-scooter hire schemes are ongoing and I repeatedly see the police being completely unconcerned as e-scooters are ridden past them.
I would like to believe that the guidance being given to police officers is to enforce the law for e-scooter riders in the same way as they do for cyclists.
Does anyone know what guidance is being given to the police as to e-scooters ?
I know this has been discussed before - but the World has changed for obvious reasons since the 2019 posts I read on the subject.
The introduction of rental e-scooters earlier this year has been combined with clampdowns on the use of illegal e-scooters. The idea is to drive people to using the legal rental option.
Yes, may people continue to use them, but it only takes one Police officer to decide he's going to stop you, and the potential consequences are 6 points on your driving licence and various fines, plus the scooter confiscated.
I want an e-scooter as much as anyone, but I'm just waiting until they privately owned scooters are legalised for road use.
The risk far outweighs the advantages of using one at the moment, for anyone who is a law abiding citizen and insures/uses other vehicles.
If you live in London where there are loads of people using scooters, and you don't care if you get points on a non-existent license, then maybe it's worth a go?
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 9th October 10:45
Lord Marylebone said:
You are totally incorrect I'm afraid.
The introduction of rental e-scooters earlier this year has been combined with clampdowns on the use of illegal e-scooters. The idea is to drive people to using the legal rental option.
Yes, may people continue to use them, but it only takes one Police officer to decide he's going to stop you, and the potential consequences are 6 points on your driving licence and various fines, plus the scooter confiscated.
I want an e-scooter as much as anyone, but I'm just waiting until they privately owned scooters are legalised for road use.
The risk far outweighs the advantages of using one at the moment, for anyone who is a law abiding citizen and insures/uses other vehicles.
If you live in London where there are loads of people using scooters, and you don't care if you get points on a non-existent license, then maybe it's worth a go?
Heaven forbid if someone is killed by a scooter then there is a good chance of a 37B offence. The introduction of rental e-scooters earlier this year has been combined with clampdowns on the use of illegal e-scooters. The idea is to drive people to using the legal rental option.
Yes, may people continue to use them, but it only takes one Police officer to decide he's going to stop you, and the potential consequences are 6 points on your driving licence and various fines, plus the scooter confiscated.
I want an e-scooter as much as anyone, but I'm just waiting until they privately owned scooters are legalised for road use.
The risk far outweighs the advantages of using one at the moment, for anyone who is a law abiding citizen and insures/uses other vehicles.
If you live in London where there are loads of people using scooters, and you don't care if you get points on a non-existent license, then maybe it's worth a go?
Edited by Lord Marylebone on Friday 9th October 10:45
Seight_Returns said:
Lord Marylebone said:
The introduction of rental e-scooters earlier this year has been combined with clampdowns on the use of illegal e-scooters. The idea is to drive people to using the legal rental option.
Thank you - that's the answer I was looking for.It's only my opinion and therefore is totally irrelevant, but I wouldn't want anyones kids riding e-scooters until they are legalised and the child meets the age requirements etc, as I just don't think it's worth the risk of prosecution before they have even begun their driving career.
Agree - it was my daughters idea - but with the increased congestion in London post Covid, I can see advantages for all of us using it.
My question was prompted by having seen complete disinterest by police officers to people riding e-scooters on the road on numerous occasions - and I suspect that in 5 years time the law will have changed to treat e-scooters and electrically assisted bicycles as the same - but I agree that the law is the law.
I've placed myself outside the law before for things that were illegal but generally accepted as only being illegal because of the time it took to change the law (flashing lights on bicycles) - but not when my licence is at risk.
My question was prompted by having seen complete disinterest by police officers to people riding e-scooters on the road on numerous occasions - and I suspect that in 5 years time the law will have changed to treat e-scooters and electrically assisted bicycles as the same - but I agree that the law is the law.
I've placed myself outside the law before for things that were illegal but generally accepted as only being illegal because of the time it took to change the law (flashing lights on bicycles) - but not when my licence is at risk.
Edited by Seight_Returns on Friday 9th October 12:33
Lord Marylebone said:
Yes, may people continue to use them, but it only takes one Police officer to decide he's going to stop you, and the potential consequences are 6 points on your driving licence and various fines, plus the scooter confiscated.
Yep - I bough an electric unicycle a couple of years ago. Although I knew it was technically illegal I assumed it would just be a slap on the wrist, and did use it to go into town a few times.Then last year, read something saying I could get points on my driving license - and haven't used it since.
Seight_Returns said:
Agree - it was my daughters idea - but with the increased congestion in London post Covid, I can see advantages for all of us using it.
My question was prompted by having seen complete disinterest by police officers to people riding e-scooters on the road on numerous occasions - and I suspect that in 5 years time the law will have changed to treat e-scooters and electrically assisted bicycles as the same - but I agree that the law is the law.
I've placed myself outside the law before for things that were illegal but generally accepted as only being illegal because of the time it took to change the law (flashing lights on bicycles) - but not when my licence is at risk.
100%My question was prompted by having seen complete disinterest by police officers to people riding e-scooters on the road on numerous occasions - and I suspect that in 5 years time the law will have changed to treat e-scooters and electrically assisted bicycles as the same - but I agree that the law is the law.
I've placed myself outside the law before for things that were illegal but generally accepted as only being illegal because of the time it took to change the law (flashing lights on bicycles) - but not when my licence is at risk.
I'm all for them, and I think they offer a revolution in convenient urban transport and city commuting etc.
I too would risk a £100 fine or a slap on the wrist etc, but I wouldn't risk my licence.
I'm hopeful that the e-scooter hire trials will expand into a scheme whereby one could lease an e-scooter for a period of weeks or months - rather than hire by the hour.
Would ensure that eScooters were all insured and met whatever registration and construction and use regs were deemed appropriate - rather than letting everyone loose on whatever they chose to buy from Ali Express.
Would ensure that eScooters were all insured and met whatever registration and construction and use regs were deemed appropriate - rather than letting everyone loose on whatever they chose to buy from Ali Express.
Edited by Seight_Returns on Friday 9th October 13:12
Seight_Returns said:
I'm hopeful that the e-scooter hire trials will expand into a scheme whereby one could lease an e-scooter for a period of weeks or months - rather than hire by the hour.
Would ensure that eScooters were all insured and met whatever, registration and construction and use regs were deemed appropriate - rather than letting everyone loose on whatever they chose to buy from Ali Express.
The law actually allows for ‘longer term leasing’ of e-scooters as well as hours/day rental. This was put into the new ‘rental scooter legislation’ earlier this year.Would ensure that eScooters were all insured and met whatever, registration and construction and use regs were deemed appropriate - rather than letting everyone loose on whatever they chose to buy from Ali Express.
I find it incredible that no one is offering this yet as it solves a problem.
There could be companies offering a scooter on a month buy month lease basis, or a 6/12 month basis. They could send you the scooter in the post from a warehouse or something. As long it’s insured by the leasing company for the duration you have it, it’s all legal.
Somebody already has been killed riding an electric scooter, was news a while back
Youtuber Emily Hartridge
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-53823...
Youtuber Emily Hartridge
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-53823...
Vickers_VC10 said:
Wont be long till someone ends up squashed on one or there is a pedestrian death caused by them and they will be banned. Seems inevitable to me.
Pedestrians have been killed by bicycles and by cars. Cyclists and car drivers have been killed by other car drivers.As far as I'm aware, no one is talking about banning bicycles or cars.
People being killed doesn't necessarily lead to things being banned. My take on the e-scooter trails is that it is a way for the government to legalise the use of them after a trail period.
In fact, only just the other day the Governments Transport Committee said that they recommended that e-scooters be legalised for private ownership and usage on roads:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54380251
I’ve not seen anything circulated at work about electric scooters, but to be honest, it’s not something I’d normally deal with in my day to day role anyway, so I’d probably not take much notice unless I needed to deal with someone for any offences.
Not totally unrelated, but Copenhagen have just banned e-scooters from being parked in a huge chunk of the city centre. It seems old people were falling over them. I think they’re looking at barriers next...
http://cphpost.dk/?p=119213
Not totally unrelated, but Copenhagen have just banned e-scooters from being parked in a huge chunk of the city centre. It seems old people were falling over them. I think they’re looking at barriers next...
http://cphpost.dk/?p=119213
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff