Requirement for e-scooters to be registered could be brought in via 'emergency legislation'

The requirement for owners of e-scooters to register them could be brought in via “emergency legislation”, according to road safety minister Sean Canney.

The requirement for owners of e-scooters to register them could be brought in via “emergency legislation”, according to Minister of State with responsibility for Road Safety, Seán Canney.

Speaking at the start of informal meetings among EU transport ministers, the Mr Canney said that he is pressing ahead with moves to classify e-scooters as mechanically propelled vehicles, which would then require them to be registered.

Speaking in Dunlin Castle on Monday morning, he said: “We’re looking at redefining an e-scooter and making it a mechanically propelled vehicle, which in turn will mean it would have to be registered.

“That detail is being worked out at the moment, and I hope to bring something forward on that in terms of legislation, either in the committee stage of the bill and bringing it through at the moment, or as emergency legislation.” 

Reclassification could lead to requirements such as licences, tax and insurance being needed for their use.

Previously, however, Mr Canney has conceded that it might not actually be possible to insure e-scooters.

Added to that, transport minister Darragh O’Brien has previously cautioned against introducing “overly stringent” regulations on e-scooters.

He said there needed to be “further discussion” as far as their reclassification was concerned.

Mr O’Brien said recently he didn’t want “overly stringent regulations” that effectively bring in a de facto ban.

Earlier this month, the Government introduced new regulations to make helmets and high-visibility clothing mandatory for e-scooter users.

E-scooter users deemed to be non-compliant with the new rules can be issued a fixed-charge penalty of €100.

Mr Canney said the new measures would “strengthen safety standards and support effective enforcement, while ensuring that the benefits of e-scooters can be realised without compromising public safety”.

More significant measures that will increase the legal age of e-scooter users from 16 to 18 are in the pipeline. Those measures will not be introduced immediately, as the Attorney General has advised that the proposed changes will have to go to the EU Commission for approval.