Taken from Wiltshire Police (click to visit the website and read the full statement)
Op Jetsom – a two-phase operation targeting the illegal use of the vehicles across the county and take them off our streets to protect the public.
For the next five weeks, we will be running an educational and awareness campaign explaining the law around privately owned e-scooters and e-bikes. This will involve stopping users and explaining the law, conducting school visits before term ends and an awareness social media campaign.
Those who are stopped and have been involved in another crime, such as speeding, antisocial behaviour or acts of violence, will still have them seized.
From August 1, anyone who is stopped riding an illegal e-scooter or modified, high-powered e-bikes can expect to have it seized and destroyed.
The operation is a response to numerous complaints that we receive around them being ridden dangerously and as a means for associated criminality and antisocial behaviour.
WHAT IS THE LAW?
- E-SCOOTERS:
- Classed as ‘powered transporters’ and must meet the same laws as motor vehicles
- This means they need a licence, MOT, tax and insurance to be ridden legally
- As they don’t meet the safety criteria necessary to be insured, it is illegal to use them on roads, pavements and public areas like parks.
- Some parts of the country are running pilot schemes where the public can rent e-scooters. There is no such scheme in Wiltshire
- E-BIKES:
- Legal e-bikes are called electrically assisted pedal cycles (EAPCs)
- If you are aged over 14, they are legal to ride on our roads but must meet certain criteria.
- It must have pedals which must be engaged to propel it, the motor must have a maximum output of 250 watts and it must not be able to provide electric assistance over 15.5mph.
- If it doesn’t meet this criteria, it is treated as a motor vehicle and needs a licence, MOT, tax and insurance to be ridden legally.
