Draft decree proposes up to 90-day impoundment for e-scooter offences

Nicosia, Cyprus. E-scooters could be impounded for between 30 and 90 days for offences including speeding, underage use and riding in prohibited areas under a draft decree announced by the public works department on Thursday.

Public works department executive engineer Haris Christodoulou said owners could recover impounded scooters after the relevant period by paying an out-of-court fine.

Proposed penalties

Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, Christodoulou said impoundment periods of 30 to 90 days could apply where e-scooters are used in prohibited areas, ridden by people under 17, or are capable of exceeding 25km/h.

Owners would be able to pay an out-of-court fine and collect their scooter after the impoundment period expires. If the fine is not paid, the scooter would remain impounded until court proceedings begin.

Road safety concerns

Christodoulou said e-scooters presented several road safety shortcomings that needed to be considered.

He said riders must maintain their balance while travelling at an appropriate speed, while the small size of the vehicles and the positioning of their lights can make them difficult for other road users to see.

“At night it is even harder to spot them,” he said.

He added that the scooters’ small tyres increased the risks associated with poor road surfaces because they are less able to absorb irregularities such as potholes.

Restrictions on use

E-scooters are permitted only on roads with speed limits of up to 30km/h and on cycle paths, significantly limiting where they can legally be used in urban areas, Christodoulou said.

“The speed limit on the vast majority of roads in urban centres is 50 kilometres per hour,” he said.

The public works department is developing cycling infrastructure across the island, while local authorities also need to establish more 30km/h zones, he added.