E-bike seizure

PC Dave Olczak and PC Andy Russell stopped a takeaway delivery operative on an illegal E-bike yesterday afternoon.
The bike had a throttle and so is classed as a mechanically propelled vehicle.
The rider had no insurance, tax or MOT on the vehicle, so the bike was seized.
The rider then refused to provide his details, so was arrested for the traffic offences to ascertain his identity.

Most E-bikes comply with traffic law but if they have a throttle, then they go from being a pedal assisted bike to being a mechanically propelled vehicle. Regardless of the speed that they can travel at, they are not allowed on the roads without valid insurance, tax and MOT. 

There are some towns and city's where specific bi-laws apply to allow the use of these vehicles and E-scooters. Worcestershire does not have such bi-laws. So, if you get caught on an E-scooter or throttle E-bike, then officers will likely seize it and you are unlikely to get it back. 

If you fail to provide your details after committing a moving traffic offence, then you also run the risk of being arrested. In this case the arrest could have been avoided if the bike owner had given details to the officers at the time.