|
On Wednesday 3 September officers responded to reports made by the public about an e-scooter towing a trailer around the Leegomery area.
PC Ryan Davies and PCSO Josh Peel went out to find the vehicle and were quickly on the trail where they located it on Ketley Park Road.
It was quickly discovered that the rider of the e-scooter, a man aged in his 40s, was using the adapted vehicle to carry out parcel deliveries. He also did not have correct insurance.
The e-scooter was seized and the rider was reported, however, he was allowed to keep the trailer so he could continue his deliveries by foot.
While it is not illegal to buy an e-scooter, they are currently illegal to use on public roads, pavements, cycle lanes and pedestrian-only areas unless part of a legal e-scooter loan scheme.
There are no legal schemes in place in the counties covered by West Mercia Police, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire, so across the force e-scooters can only be ridden on private land with the permission of the landowner.
E-scooters are currently classed as Personal Light Electric Vehicles (PLEVs) by the Government and fall under the same laws and regulations that apply to all motor vehicles in terms of requiring insurance, tax, MOT, licence and registration.
There is no mechanism in place currently to obtain any of these for e-scooters so as this requirement can’t be met, their use in public areas is illegal, anyone found using them in public areas risks having the e-scooter seized by the police.
For e-bikes, the law states that you can ride an electric bike if you’re 14 or over, so long as it is an ‘electrically assisted pedal cycle’ (EAPC). To be legally used on our roads, an e-bike must have:
- Pedals that must be in motion for the motor assistance to be provided,
- The motor used must be of no more than 250 Watts (maximum continuous rated power)
- Electric assistance can only be provided to a maximum of 15.5mph
- The rider must be 14 years of age or over
EAPCs can be ridden anywhere a regular bicycle is permitted, including roads, cycle lanes, and bridleways, but cannot be ridden on pavements (unless that part of the pavement is specifically designated for cycling).
Modifying an electric bike and not adhering to the above laws can render it illegal for road use and may subject it to motorcycle or moped regulation.
Anyone found not adhering to these laws will be dealt with as appropriate. You can find out more about the law around e-bikes here: https://orlo.uk/CYdBl 
|
