Police issue warning over e-scooter use

People have been reminded that the use of electronic scooters on public roads is not permitted and those caught using them could face prosecution.

The Isle of Man Constabulary said there had been a "rise in complaints" about e-scooter use.

In a statement it urged parents to make themselves aware of the implications of buying them for their children to use them and they were "not road legal".

"That means no roads, no pavements, no cycle paths, and no public spaces. They're simply not allowed," it said.

"It might seem like harmless fun, but your children could be breaking the law," it added.

The warning follows recent court proceedings that saw a Peel resident fined £950 and given seven points on his driving license for riding an e-scooter in September.

The man was convicted of having a vehicle in a dangerous and unroadworthy condition, having no road insurance and no driving licence.

While regulations were proposed in 2023, which would have banned e-scooters from pedestrian pathways, but allowed them to be used on roads and cycle lanes, they were no longer a priority for the Department of Infrastructure.

Under the terms of those draft laws, riders would be limited to speeds of up to 24km/h (15mph) and would have to be over 14 years old.

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