We often get complaints and questions about the legality of electric powered scooters of the type sold at many High Street retailers and so eagerly sought by teenagers up and down the country. 

E-scooters are a growing trend of new personal transport that come under the category of "powered transporters". This also covers a range of other personal transport devices which are powered by a motor, like Segways. 

"Powered transporters" fall within the legal definition of a motor vehicle under the Road Traffic Act 1988. Therefore, the rules that apply to motor vehicles - cars and motorbikes, also apply to e-scooters. 

As a motor vehicle, they must comply with various pieces of Road Traffic Legislation, including but not limited to:

• driving with a licence
• driving/riding with insurance
• driving/riding other than on a road
• need to be registered and taxed

Of course you can't register and tax them because they don't meet the safety regulations required, so the result is that you simply are not allowed to use them on roads, pavements, or other public places.

If you do use an E-Scooter in those places you could face prosecution.
 

Even if you are given a fixed penalty ticket, riding without insurance attracts a £300 fine and 6 points on your driving licence. It you don't have a licence, the points would be on it when you apply for one.

Further fines could be imposed for riding without a licence, riding on the pavement or off-road. Worse still, the matter could be referred to a magistrates court where fines and points can be higher.

The police can also seize and destroy the E-Scooter if it is ridden without a licence or insurance, or carelessly in a manner likely to alarm, distress or annoy people - even if this is off the road.

We will always aim to educate wherever possible but seizure and prosecution are options available to us.