Your child can be slapped with six penalty points from riding a scooter – even if they don’t have a driving licence

THINK twice about buying your child an electric scooter, as it can land them in some hot water.

Although it’s quite common to see electric scooters whizzing along city roads now, the vehicles remain illegal in most parts of the country – and offenders could face six penalty points and a fine.

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Wiltshire Police has sent out fresh warnings for one of the best-selling gifts in December last year, after taking a 14-year-old boy to Salisbury Magistrates Court for using an e-scooter despite repeated warnings from officers.

Being underage, the child did not hold a driving licence but his driving record was endorsed with six points.

He was also fined £40 and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £22.

High-powered electric scooters can accelerate up to 40mph, and should have a label on their packaging declaring they are not toys.

Despite their fairly common use by city commuters, rental electric scooters are the only way to legally ride one in public places and it is still illegal to use privately-owned e-scooters on public roads.

The ban of e-scooters being ridden public includes “roads, pavements, parks, town centres or promenades.”

You must not use an e-scooter on the pavement. If you have your own e-scooter, you can only ride it on private land.

Police have given this warning as to why they are illegal in a public place: “This is because e-scooters are classified as Personal Light Electric Vehicles (PLEVs) so they are treated as motor vehicles.

“As such, if they are used on a road, pavement or public place they are subject to the same legal requirements as any motor vehicle.

“We would also ask anyone using an e-scooter legally – i.e. on private land – to carefully consider their safety before doing so.”

Using a scooter on a road without a licence or insurance can land you a fine of up to £300 and up to six penalty points.

All points on a provisional licence will be carried over to a full licence if they haven’t expired yet.

Inspector Myles Hilbery, of the City of London Police’s Roads Policing Unit, said: “If you use an e-scooter in any public place in the city, whether it’s on the road, the pavement or other public place, you will be breaking the law and can be prosecuted.

“While we will often issue a verbal warning for first time offenders, if you continue to use your e-scooter, our officers will take further action against you.

“Some of the offences include driving without a valid licence and driving without insurance, which could result in a £300 fine and up to six points on your driving licence if you have one.

“On top of this, your e-scooter may also be seized.”