Christmas warning as illegal e-scooters and electric bikes could be seized by police

Residents are being warned to check the rules before buying e-scooters and electric bikes as Christmas presents this year, with vehicles at risk of being seized if they are used illegally.

The warning comes from Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire Police as part of Operation Transom, the ongoing partnership crackdown on the illegal and anti-social use of off-road bikes, e-bikes, e-scooters and other nuisance vehicles across the city.

While e-scooters can legally be bought in the UK, they cannot legally be ridden in public. They can only be used on private land with the permission of the landowner.

That means they cannot be ridden on public roads, pavements, cycle lanes, parks or other public spaces. Riders who use them illegally could face a fine and penalty points, and police could seize the e-scooter.

Shoppers are also being urged to make sure any electric bike they buy complies with UK regulations.

A compliant e-bike must have pedals, a motor with a maximum continuous power output of 250 watts and must stop providing assistance at 15.5mph. Bikes that do not meet these requirements can be treated as motor vehicles and are subject to different legal requirements.

The warning also highlights important safety considerations. E-bikes and e-scooters use lithium-ion batteries, which can pose a serious fire risk if they are damaged, modified, poorly manufactured or charged using an incompatible charger.

Councillor Duncan Walker, cabinet member for safe and resilient communities and housing at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said:

“We know e-bikes and e-scooters can look like an exciting Christmas present, particularly for young people, but we want people to understand exactly what they are buying before they spend their money.

“An e-scooter might be legal to buy, but that doesn’t mean it’s legal to ride it around your local streets or parks. If it’s used illegally, you could lose the vehicle as well as facing action yourself.

“Operation Transom is about making our communities safer and tackling the vehicles that are being used illegally or causing a nuisance. We want people to enjoy Christmas, but we’d much rather they knew the rules before putting one under the tree.”

Sergeant Nathan Moghaddam, of the Stoke-on-Trent north local policing team, said:

“Nuisance vehicles have been identified as one of the top concerns of local residents across Stoke-on-Trent, and we are actively working to take robust action against those who put other road users and pedestrians at risk by using them.

“I would urge parents to know and understand the law surrounding e-scooters before purchasing one, they cannot be used on public roads, pavements or public spaces and your child will risk having it seized from them.

“We will continue to work alongside our local partners to target those who use vehicles illegally or anti-socially across Stoke-on-Trent.”

To report nuisance vehicles, please email operationtransom@stoke.gov.uk or call 01782 233400, for all emergency situations, please report to 999. Alternatively, you can report anonymously via CrimeStoppers. 

Don’t get caught out this Christmas. Check the rules before you buy.

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