West Mercia Police officers are cracking down on the illegal use of E-Scooters through the force area, including here in Herefordshire.
From West Mercia Police:
Following a number of isolated incidents and complaints around the use of Electric Scooters West Mercia Police are reminding those using private e scooters of the legislation currently in place governing their use.
Although e scooters are available to buy they are currently illegal to use on public roads, pavements, cycle lanes and pedestrian-only areas unless part of an approved Government trial. 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, license 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.
Superintendent Mel Crowther comments; “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”.
Police in Hereford recently seized an e-scooter from a member of the public:
