E-scooters - changes to the law
Are you aware of the laws around riding and owning e-scooters?
Over the last few years, electric scooters have grown in popularity across Europe as they have become an easy way to get around cities and a more sustainable way of travelling. The law around e-scooters can be largely misunderstood.
E-scooter popularity has grown around Europe and you are often able to rent one through various charging points set out around popular cities, however some people in the UK have recently started to purchase their own privately owned e-scooters which are illegal to use on public property, this includes roads, pavements and cycle lanes, many purchasers of privately owned e-scooters are unaware that purchasing a privately owned e-scooter is illegal and this then puts these people at risk of breaking the law.
Defining UK e-scooter Law
There are many questions that are raised in relation to electric scooters and the law, from terms around using an electric scooter off road and whether you can ride an electric scooter on the pavement.
Escooters are classified as “powered transporters” they are covered by the same legislation as motor vehicles and because of this it means that they must meet the same standards for vehicles under the Road Traffic Act 1988, this means that they have to be registered by the DVLA, insured and taxed. This means that if you purchase a privately owned e-scooter the only place that you can legally ride it, is on your privately owned land.
What are the consequences for law breaking around e-scooters?
Electric scooter rules are likely to change and as it stands if you are caught breaking the law by riding a privately owned electric scooter on public land, you are likely to receive a £300 and 6 points on your license. It is likely that you will also have your e-scooter confiscated.
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