More and more young people are facing criminal proceedings because of e-scooters. Why is this?
In the last few years, road traffic offenses handled by the juvenile court have increased massively. These also include proceedings involving electric scooters.
Most offenses involve on-the-spot fines issued by the police, such as improper parking, illegal riding on the sidewalk or speeding. However, serious offenses such as riding an e-scooter without a license must be reported to the responsible juvenile court which launches legal proceedings.
So it is even more important to know who is allowed to ride what. Any vehicle that is electrically driven is classified as a motor vehicle and its use is specifically regulated by law. This differs somewhat from scooters which are only driven by muscle power.
How old must I be to ride an e-scooter?
You must be 14 years old to ride an e-scooter, provided you have a category M driver's license. You can only ride an e-scooter without a driver's license when you are 16 years old.
What am I allowed to do with the category M driver's license?
From age 14 to 16, a category M license allows you to ride light mopeds, electric light motor-assisted bikes and electric motor-assisted bikes that do not require a driver's license.
In domestic traffic, the category M driver's license entitles you to carry trailers for vehicles in the special M category. The emergency first responder course is not required. The practical exam is only required if the applicant has not yet reached the minimum age or if the authority has doubts about suitability.
Are my friend and I both allowed to ride on the e-scooter at the same time?
It's fun and it saves money, but only one person is allowed to ride on an e-scooter. You're not allowed to carry a passenger and for good reason. Due to the driving dynamics of an e-scooter, the brakes, steering and turning power are put under strain by a second person and can endanger other road users.