Posted on Oct 12, 2015 at 2:15 PM · by Odotsheaman Comments Off

Segways are illegal to ride in public, Crown Prosecution Service says

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The electric self-balancing scooters must adhere to the same rules as Segways, meaning they cannot be ridden on roads or pavements

Hoverboard scooters have become massively popular

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They’ve exploded in popularity and have been used by sports stars, celebrities and rappers, but “hoverboard” scooters are illegal to use in public, it has been confirmed.
The Met Police tweeted to confirm that the “self-balancing scooters” cannot be ridden on roads or pavements, and are only allowed on private property.

Own one of these or thinking about getting one? They're illegal to ride in public! Info here: http://t.co/We85yLAzsU pic.twitter.com/vMm0hxNAjs
— MPS Specials (@MPSSpecials) October 11, 2015

The vehicles, which have become a common sight on streets and range from around £200 to several hundred pounds, are a sort-of sideways electric skateboard, with users leaning forward or backward to control them.

But they must adhere to the same rules as Segways under UK law. Segways are motor vehicles and thus cannot be ridden on pavements, but are not licensed either, so are not allowed to go on roads.

In fact, the only legal place to ride a hoverboard is on private property, with the permission of the property’s owner, according to the Crown Prosecution Service.

“You can only ride an unregistered self-balancing scooter on land which is private property and with the landowner’s permission. The Department for Transport would advise that appropriate safety clothing should be worn at all times,” it says.

@specialsarge it is a "self-balancing scooter" and classed as a motor vehicle, therefore relevant legislation is applicable to them.
— MPS Specials (@MPSSpecials) October 11, 2015

@SE9londoner These scooters are not covered by exemptions given to mobility vehicles. It's not due to voltage that they're illegal to ride
— MPS Specials (@MPSSpecials) October 11, 2015

@westbrookdanni We haven't made them illegal, thats Parliaments job, not the police. They're covered by legislation that's existed for years
— MPS Specials (@MPSSpecials) October 11, 2015

The message apparently didn’t make it to Manchester, where one police officer was seen using a hoverboard on Saturday.

Manchester’s GMP Swinton account tweeted a picture of a police officer using a hoverboard on a pavement.

PCSO Olly testing out the new Police mode of transport! #Segway pic.twitter.com/6PDIOEM1UI
— GMP Swinton (@GMPSwinton) October 10, 2015

In 2011, a judge decided that Segways must qualify as motor vehicles, and fined a man £75 for riding them on the pavement.

The Segway never really caught on despite its initial buzz, but the hoverboard is becoming an increasingly common sight, despite being mocked by many sections of society.

So this is how the world ends pic.twitter.com/D2ewEoLyVG
— j.r. hennessy (@jrhennessy) September 28, 2015

Several Premier League footballers have been seen using them, as have celebrities including Justin Bieber and Chris Brown.
However, they are not without their controversies. The rapper Wiz Khalifa was handcuffed at LAX airport for refusing to dismount, and a pilgrim to Mecca was spotted riding one during the tawaf ritual of walking round Islam’s sacred Ka’bah shrine.
They have also become a target for thieves, with a man knocked off his £300 machine in North London last month.

Here’s what some of you had to say on the matter:

"Your Dads in jail for riding a Segway on the road" ?
— Lordie #GrimeReport (@Lordie__) October 12, 2015

It's only illegal to be on your Segway when your wearing Rubbish creps like these! ? pic.twitter.com/WLuDh4b7hK
— Flowdan (@BigFlowdan) October 12, 2015

imagine spending £300+ on a segway to only be able to ride it in your 70×70 kitchen loooooooool
— mondell (@mkwlms) October 12, 2015

Can't wait for the first video of a copper chasing some 10yr old down the street on a segway ????
— HATCHA (@DJHATCHA) October 12, 2015

The government dealing with Segway's like weed.
— Chuckie Lothian (@ChuckieOnline) October 12, 2015

They wanna shutdown the segway vibe already? I don't even have one or want one but flipping ell man. They keep trying to control us. SMH.
— Ashley Thomas (@Bashy) October 12, 2015

England will make anything illegal how can riding a Segway be illegal LOL I don't even own one but that is ridiculous
— Realz | Coldest ⛄️❄️ (@RlzWorld) October 12, 2015