South Yorkshire Police issue warning about laws surrounding use of electric scooters

The warning came following concerns about the number of young people using the scooters in and around Crystal Peaks shopping centre in Sheffield.

It is against the law to ride electric scooters on roads, paths or any public land.

They can only be used on private land with the land owner’s permission.

Police officers have the power to seize E-Scooters and can prosecute people for using them without insurance because they fall under the same laws and regulations that apply to all motor vehicles.

South Yorkshire Police has also warned that it is a breach of Covid rules to met up with another E-scooter user for exercise because they are battery powered.

Police officers are tasked with enforcing the latest national lockdown in a bid to try to halt the spread of coronavirus, with fines of between £200 and £10,000 possible.

PC Scott Padley said: “I understand lots of young people in the local area will have got these E-Scooters as their main gifts for Christmas and will be wanting to come out and meet their friends on them.

“Due to the current legislation around them, these are not legal to use in public and Crystal Peaks are not giving permission for any of their land to be used for these scooters.

“The last thing I want to be doing is seizing someone’s Christmas present, but may be left with little choice.

“We are seeing an increase in the use of the E-Scooters at Crystal Peaks and also groups of young people trying to ride these through the malls, which brings its own dangers with this as they can pick up quite a bit of speed and could cause serious injuries to members of the public in the centre. This must stop.”

He added: “I urge any parents who have bought these E-Scooters for their children to read the legislation and stop your children from using them unless you are taking them somewhere that has given you prior permission to use the E-Scooters on their land.”