ELECTRIC scooter users who ride on pavements or roads could be faced with penalty points or a driving licence ban, police warn, after a reported rise in illegal use in Barrow.

Concerns have been raised about the rise in illegal use of electric scooters after riders were reportedly spotted on pavements in Ainslie Street, sparking concern among residents about their safety.

According to current legislation it is illegal to use electric scooters on roads, footpaths, cycle tracks/lanes, bridleways, or byways and the devices can only be ridden on private land with owner’s consent.

Cumbria police said riding scooters in public places is ‘potentially dangerous’ to the public – and those who flout the law could be faced with a driving ban.

A spokesman for Cumbria Constabulary said: “The only legal place these privately-purchased scooters can be ridden are on private land with the owner’s consent.

“They are also potentially dangerous to other members of the public and the riders themselves.

“The e-scooters are classed as a powered transporter and come under the same legislation as motor vehicles, therefore you need a licence and insurance to ride them. They need to be registered to be ridden on the road and then they will be subject to technical standards such as MoT and vehicle tax.

“Any person who uses an electrical scooter, powered transporter on a public road or other prohibited space as listed above in breach of the law will be committing a criminal offence, therefore can be prosecuted, as well as having the scooter seized under road traffic legislation.

“We have a surge of anti-social behaviour involving these scooters and we are actively enforcing legislation.

“Please be warned that if you are found riding an e-scooter on a road, footpath, bridleway, or byway we will be seizing the scooter and reporting you for offences, ultimately resulting in penalty points on your driving licence, driving disqualification and/or fines.

“Please keep our communities safe.”