WEST Mercia Police is clamping down on the use of electric scooters after a number of isolated incidents and complaints across the force area.
According to the law, e-scooters are illegal for public use on roads, pavements, in cycle lanes and in pedestrian-only areas – with the exception of Redditch which is taking part in the Government trial. In the borough you can only use the official licensed ‘for hire’ scooters and private e-scooters cannot be used.
E-scooters are currently classed as ‘Powered transporters’ by the Government and fall under the same laws and regulations that apply to all motor vehicles in terms of requiring insurance, tax, MOT, licence and registration.
There is no mechanism in place at the moment to obtain any of these for e scooters so as this requirement can’t be met their use in public areas is illegal.
As they fall under the same laws as motor vehicles, anyone found using them in public areas risks having the e scooter seized.
Supt Mel Crowther said: “We are aware that national trials for e scooter use are taking place across the UK, but until these trials are complete and legislation is in place it remains an offence for private e scooters to be used on public roads.
“As a police force we have to enforce the current legislation that is in place which prohibits their use in public areas. It is our job to keep all road users safe so anyone found using an e scooter on public roads risks having this seized by police.”
