Police are advising parents against purchasing e-bikes and e-scooters for children this Christmas, citing safety concerns and legal ambiguities surrounding the electric-powered vehicles. The Scottish Police Federation (SPF) has called for enhanced legal powers to combat the increasing misuse of these devices, particularly by individuals wearing face coverings.
Despite the private use of e-scooters on public streets being illegal, they are readily available from retailers. E-bikes often come with instructions or kits to bypass speed restrictions, rendering them illegal for road use without proper licensing and insurance, as they exceed the legal definition of an electrically assisted pedal cycle and fall under laws governing motorcycles and mopeds.
Concerns have been heightened by the prevalence of delivery drivers operating illegally modified e-bikes and young people riding e-scooters recklessly. The SPF chairman, David Threadgold, emphasized the limited options police currently have to deal with dangerous riders and echoed warnings from the Inverclyde Community Safety Partnership, urging parents to reconsider these vehicles as gifts.
Data from Police Scotland shows a more than 60 percent increase in the seizure of e-bikes and e-scooters. In response, Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee has launched an inquiry into the antisocial behavior and crime associated with these vehicles. Superintendent Andy Barclay, deputy head of road policing, stated that illegally modified e-bikes are dangerous and unsuitable for public roads.
Kirsten Oswald, Holyrood's Community Safety Minister, indicated a desire to increase police authority to seize and retain e-bikes and e-scooters used for criminal or antisocial purposes. She also advised potential buyers to familiarize themselves with the relevant laws regarding these vehicles.