Your child can get six penalty points from riding a scooter – even if they don’t have a driving licence
Electric scooters are banned from being driven anywhere in public as they don't have insurance, a number plate and MOT certificate
THINK twice about buying your child an electric scooter for Christmas, as it can land them in some hot water.
They could be handed a minimum of six penalty points and a fine - even if they haven't got a driving licence.
Middlesbrough's Cleveland Police has sent out a warning for one of last year's best-selling gifts, after taking a 15-year-old boy to Teesside Magistrates Court for riding one of these scooters at a speed of between 30mph and 40mph inside a shopping centre, in the car park and on a dual carriageway.
Being underage, the child did not hold a driving licence but was still issued six penalty points in October - he did, however, escape being fined.
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, they are in fact banned from being ridden anywhere on UK roads.
This includes on pavements and cycle paths, with use limited to on authorised, private land only.
Electric scooters also do not have a number plate and MOT certificate, as well as it being very unlikely they are covered by motor insurance. Segways are also banned from use in public.
Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs are, of course, exempt from this rule. They are permitted a max speed of 4mph when driven off-road and 8mph on the road.
You could be fined around £75 if caught using one in public - and the repercussions for being a new driver are even worse.
Your licence will be revoked if you land six points or more within two years of passing your driving test.
You will also have to resit both your theory and practical exams in order to get a new one.
All points on a provisional licence will be carried over to a full licence if they haven't expired yet.
PC Mike Doherty, from Coulby Newham Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "These scooters are not toys.
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"Not only can they be extremely dangerous, but they are also not legal to ride on pavements and roads - I think many parents aren't aware of this.
"Under the Road Traffic Act we can report the individual rider for not having insurance, a license, a number plate, helmet and MOT for the scooter.
"This person will then be reported for summons and will be given a minimum of six points on their license or future license and a possible fine."