A MAN has been hit with a £419 fine and eight driving points after he was found using a motor vehicle on a road with no insurance.

On 8 December 2020, Mr Jamie David Leake, of Worcester Street, Barrow, was stopped by police after riding an electric scooter along Greengate Street in the town without any insurance.

Leake, who has no previous convictions, contacted South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday confirming his guilty plea and asked magistrates to deal with the matter with his absence on Thursday morning.

Under UK law, it is permitted to ride an electric scooter on private land as long as you have the landowner’s permission, but it is an offence to ride them in public.

In May, Cumbria Police warned residents about the dangers of E-scooters.

A spokesperson said: "Officers from the force’s roads policing unit are urging people to fully understand the law before buying or riding an E-Scooter.

"E-Scooters are illegal to use on roads, footpaths, cycle tracks/lanes, bridleways, or byways. The only legal place these privately purchased scooters can be ridden are on private land with the owner's consent.

"The E-Scooters also are potentially dangerous to riders and other member of the public with some reaching speeds of 30+mph.

"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 also need to be registered to be ridden on the road and are subject to technical standards such as MOT and vehicle tax."