E-scooter reminder from North Flintshire Police – they cannot be ridden on roads or pavements

North Flintshire Police say they are seeing an increase in the number of adults and children riding e-scooters in public places.

In response, officers have issued a warning, reminding residents of the current laws surrounding the use of these vehicles.

In the UK, e-scooters are classified as Personal Light Electric Vehicles (PLEVs) and are treated similarly to motor vehicles.

As such, they require MOT, licensing, tax, and insurance.

Yet, many e-scooters lack licence plates and signalling abilities, often missing a visible rear light, thus making their legal use on the roads impossible.

Despite the growing popularity of these compact, electric vehicles, it is illegal to ride an e-scooter in any public place, including UK public roads, cycle lanes, and pavements.

The only legal operation of e-scooters is on private land, with express permission from the landowner.

Even though the UK government’s “Future Transport Zone” is testing e-scooter usage in several local authorities, North Wales is currently not participating in these trials.

Residents are cautioned that while purchasing an e-scooter is legal, using it in public can result in police warnings and even vehicle seizures under section 59 of the Police Reform Act, if they are found to cause alarm, distress, or annoyance.

The North Flintshire police are urging residents to share this information widely amongst friends and family, to ensure a better understanding of the regulations.