Wiz Khalifa’s feet.
The
self-balancing electric boards known as “hoverboards” have become
wildly popular over the last few months in London — but might not be for
much longer. The Metropolitan Police warned on Twitter that people
using the devices are breaking the law.
In
a tweet sent on Sunday night, the account MPS Specials warned that the
device, as a “self-balancing scooter,” is “illegal” to ride in public.
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 tweet links to “Segway Guidance From The Department of Transport.” Here’s a relevant section — emphasis ours:
1.”I have a self-balancing scooter and I want to ride in on the public road, is it legal for road use?”
No. Vehicles must be approved via ECWVTA or MSVA in order to be licensed and registered. Self-balancing scooters would not currently meet the requirements of these schemes so are not legal for road use.
2.”I have been riding a self-balancing scooter on the public footway (pavement) outside my house, have I committed an offence?”
Yes. It is an offence under section 72 of the Highway Act 1835 to ride or drive a vehicle on the pavement.
It is only an offence under this Act in England and Wales. In Scotland
it is an offence under section 129(5) of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984.
Franco Folini / flickr
Segways.
In short, they’re not officially approved so can’t be used on roads, and as vehicles, they can’t be used on pavements either.
This
guidance wasn’t drawn up in response to the hoverboard craze: The
website they link to specifically discusses segways, another
self-balancing electric vehicle. But MPS Specials is arguing that the
same rules apply.
@SE9londoner
It’s because they’re technically motor vehicles & therefore have to
be registered, licensed & insured to ride on public roads
— MPS Specials (@MPSSpecials) October 11, 2015
@SoAppalledAtYou Nope, but the wheels are powered by electric motors which enable it to move, therefore legally it’s a “motor vehicle”
— MPS Specials (@MPSSpecials) October 11, 2015
The Special Constabulary is also hitting back at claims that it has “banned” hoverboards:
@brandonbolaa @garry_whu @SE9londoner We haven’t “banned” them, the legislation already existed before they became popular
— MPS Specials (@MPSSpecials) October 11, 2015
So what will happen if you get caught? No-one has been arrested for hoverboard-riding in London yet,
so it’s difficult to know for sure. But in 2011, a South Yorkshire man
was fined by a district judge for riding his segway on the pavement. He
had to pay £75, The Telegraph reported at the time — plus “£250 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.”
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The post Police say it’s illegal to ride ‘hoverboards’ in London appeared first on Business Insider.
A Segways UK(or hover board) is a fictional levitating board used for personal transportation, first described by author M. K.Joseph in 1967 and popularized by the Back to the Future film franchise. Hoverboards are generally depicted as resembling a skateboard without wheels.
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