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The popularity of e-scooters shows no sign of waning. However, if you’re tempted to ask Santa for an e-scooter have you considered where you will be able to use it?

In the UK, the use of a privately owned e-scooter is limited to private land. It’s currently against the law to ride a privately owned e-scooter in a public place; which includes roads, cycle lanes, pavements, parks and pedestrian only areas. If you’re caught doing so you could face a fine, penalty points on your licence or losing your licence.

An e-scooter is classed as a Personal Electric Light vehicle and therefore the legal requirements for motor vehicles apply including MOT, tax, licensing and specific construction. If you use an e-scooter dangerously, exceed the speed limit or are found to be over the drink drive limit you can face prosecution which may result in a fine, disqualification from driving and even a prison sentence.

Cop26 has left us in no doubt as to the need to consider alternatives to polluting vehicles. It can be argued that e-scooters offer a low cost and environmentally friendly method of transport. The government has approved a number of local councils to run e-scooter rental trials, where anyone with a valid UK driving licence can hire an e-scooter via a mobile application. Is this the first step towards legalising the wider use of e-scooters in public places?