Majority of e-scooters being sold 'unlawfully'

NINE out of 10 inspections of e-scooter retailers discovered the devices being sold in an unlawful manner, government figures show.

- NEIL LANCEFIELD

The AA said the rules for e-scooters are either “misunderstood” or “thousands of people are openly breaking the law”.

A total of 42 out of 47 visits to e-scooter retailers by Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) officials in the year to the end of April found the devices being sold either illegally or without proper guidance of legal restrictions.

The figures were revealed by transport minister Simon Lightwood in response to a parliamentary written question.

Mr Lightwood attributed the rate to “poor levels of compliance being found in the online marketplace”.

He wrote: “In that year, DVSA’s market surveillance unit looked into higher proportions sold in online markets due to apparent shifts in the way such items are sold.”