Illegal e-scooter users facing month-long crackdown by West Midlands Police

Electronic scooter riders in the West Midlands could face £300 fines for flouting the law, as the region’s police force launches a month-long operation.

Officers will be carrying out patrols throughout June to tackle riders who break the law and put others at risk.

The West Midlands force is taking action after it received complaints about the inappropriate use of e-scooters and said those caught breaching the law face having their scooters seized, having hire accounts suspended or up to six penalty points.

“We want to make sure the rules around e-scooters are clear,” a spokesperson from the force said.

“E-scooters are legally available to purchase but it’s currently against the law to ride a privately-owned one in any public place in the UK.

“This includes roads, pavements, parks, within town centres or canal towpaths.

“The only place a privately owned e-scooter can be used is on private land, with the landowner’s permission.”

E-scooters being trialled in Birmingham, Coventry and Sandwell are legal, but only in places where people can ride bicycles, such as roads and cycle lanes, not on pavements, the force added.

On Monday, Aston Police tweeted a picture of two scooters that had been seized for being uninsured.

Today, officers of the #aston team seized an E scooter for no insurance. Private E scooters are not permitted to be ridden in a public space. pic.twitter.com/TaYYCv5UJr

This evening, PC Joinson grabbed a 2 for 1 deal on e-scooters.

Whilst dealing with a male for riding one (whilst also on his phone! 🤦🏼‍♂️), a second male came past. Both were seized for no insurance.

Remember, private e-scooters can not be ridden in public places. pic.twitter.com/Uv5PNZj53V

Across the West Midlands since 1 June, 10 scooters have been seized by officers and three warnings have been issued to riders of scooters available as part of official trials.

Sergeant Jon Butler said: “The scheme being trialled in some of our regions has ensured there is an alternative and more environmentally-friendly way to get around.

#ESCOOTERS | Illegal riders face having their e-scooters seized as part of a crackdown on reckless users across the region. 🛴@Trafficwmp have launched a month-long operation to tackle riders who break the law and put others at risk. pic.twitter.com/fdHEJ2Se68

“However, e-scooters can be very dangerous if people break the law and use them in places they’re not supposed to go, such as heavily pedestrianised areas.

“We don’t want people to feel fearful while out and about and that is why we’re taking action to target those who ignore the rules.”

Large parts of the UK are trialling the use of e-scooters, including London, which launched a 12-month trial of rental e-scooters in May.

The year-long Transport of London trial started on 7 June and was being made available in Canary Wharf, the City of London, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, and Richmond.

However, the trial suffered a setback on its first day after the City of London Corporation pushed back its participation until 5 July.

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