High stress in Höxteran traffic: 39-year-old busted with high-speed e-scooter!

High stress in Höxteran traffic: 39-year-old busted with high-speed e-scooter!

On Thursday, July 10th, an e-scooter in Höxter, more precisely on Brenkhäuser Straße, attracted the attention of the police. Officials checked the vehicle, which was traveling in moving traffic. During the inspection, it turned out that the e-scooter was equipped with a blue, invalid insurance license plate that had never been issued for this vehicle. The driver, a 39-year-old man from the Czech Republic who does not live in Germany, was unable to provide current insurance and only had a bicycle helmet with him.

Although the man had driving license classes AM and B, it turned out that these were not sufficient to drive the e-scooter. The e-scooter had a stated maximum speed of 145 km/h, while according to the app it can even reach up to 160 km/h. According to legal regulations, at least a driving license class A1 would be required in order to be able to use the vehicle on public transport. In addition, the e-scooter was not approved for road traffic in Germany, and advertisements for the device on the Internet promised speeds of over 100 km/h.

Legal situation and consequences

The check led to criminal proceedings for driving without a license and insurance. The police ordered a security deposit of 350 euros, which was collected immediately. The driver was already known in Munich for driving without a license in the past. He stated that he had also had problems with his e-scooter in cities such as Munich and Berlin. He was expressly prohibited from further using the e-scooter domestically. Eventually he had to push the vehicle to his apartment.

Before this check, a 14-year-old from Höxter was also stopped on an e-scooter. He had attached a third-party insurance number to his uninsured e-scooter. Criminal proceedings were also initiated against him and his parents for lack of insurance coverage. He was prohibited from continuing to drive until he obtained valid insurance.

Regulations and security

E-scooters are considered electric scooters and are subject to strict regulations. According to the ADAC You need liability insurance, which is proven by a sticker attached. Only e-scooters with an operating license are legal in public spaces. In addition, driving on sidewalks and in pedestrian zones is only permitted at walking speed, while driving is permitted on cycle paths. Newly planned regulations of the Small Electric Vehicle Ordinance (EKfV) aim to increase road safety and are due to come into force by 2025 at the latest.

The use of e-scooters is permitted for people aged 14 and over without a driving license. Wearing a helmet is recommended, but not mandatory. It is important to be aware of the applicable regulations in order to avoid fines - for example for driving without an insurance license plate or without a operating license. Depending on the violation, penalties of up to 180 euros can be imposed.

The incidents in Höxter highlight the need to comply with current regulations and the dangers posed by unregistered or inadequately insured vehicles.