Riders were taken home to their parentsCops stopped more than a dozen e-scooters riders during a blitz in Warwickshire - and took many of them home to their parents.
It has been revealed that officers stopped 14 e-scooter riders Warwick, Leamington, Kenilworth and Nuneaton and Bedworth during a four-day sting.
Those stopped, who police say were mostly teenagers, were taken home, where the legislation around e-scooters was explained to them and to their parents or guardian.
Their names and e-scooter details were also recorded so if stopped again, officers can check if they have already been spoken to.
If stopped a second time officers do have the powers to seize e-scooters and prosecute riders using Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act.
Action from Operation Patrol Unit (OPU), Reactive, Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) and the Special Constabulary officers was part of a drive to ensure riders and their parents or guardians know that it is illegal to ride a privately owned e-scooter in a public place.
It also followed complaints from residents speeding e-scooters and the legality of their use.
'The law is clear'
PC Adam Fletcher from the Roads Policing Unit said “We understand that buying an e-scooter can be tempting, especially as the weather improves however the law is clear.
"You can buy one but it is illegal to use a privately owned e-scooter in any public space including roads, pavements, parks, town centres or canal towpaths for example.
"The only place a privately owned e-scooter can be used is on private land.”
This is because e-scooters are classified as Personal Light Electric Vehicles (PLEVs) so they are treated as motor vehicles and subject to the same legal requirements such as MOT, licensing, tax and insurance.
As e-scooters do not have number plates, signalling ability and do not always have visible rear lights, they cannot be used legally on the roads."