Essex Police to fine those riding e-scooters illegally

While e-scooters are legally available to purchase, it’s currently against the law to ride a privately-owned e-scooter in any public place in the UK.

The only ones which can be legally ridden on the road are those in Colchester, and other parts of Essex, as part of the ongoing trial being run by Spin.

Up until now Essex Police say they have been simply seizing private e-scooters from those caught riding illegally.

However, due to recurring issues they will now be handing out fines and issuing points on drivers' licences.

Read more:

• Colchester: Man receives ban for drink driving on e-scooter
• 4 Covid symptoms you are still likely to get once you are fully vaccinated
• Ofsted rates Colchester Royal Grammar School as inadequate

A spokesman for Essex Police Colchester said: "I know, I know, it’s another post about e-scooters from Essex Police and to pre-empt the inevitable 'haven’t you got anything better to do with your time?' comments.

"To be blunt, yes, we do have other things we could be doing but the message around e-Scooters doesn’t seem to be getting through to some people and so we need to reinforce our messaging to keep our roads as safe as we can.

"Up to this point we have only been seizing e-scooters where they are being driven Illegally i.e. without insurance in public.

"But going forward we will now be issuing tickets for fines and points on your driving licence for traffic offences as well as seizing the e-scooter.

"If you don't have a driving license yet you could find that you will already have points on your license before you even sit your test."