Leicestershire county councillor Craig Smith has launched a campaign calling for tighter regulations on e-scooters to ensure public safety and consistent enforcement of the law.

The councillor for Coalville North has written to both the Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicestershire and Rutland, Rupert Matthews, and North West Leicestershire MP, Amanda Hack, to seek clarification on the current enforcement policies and push for legislative change.

E-scooters are currently classified as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act 1988, requiring licensing and insurance for legal use on public roads.

However, Cllr Smith says enforcement varies significantly between police forces, creating confusion and inconsistency.

He added that a recent Freedom of Information request revealed that just ONE e-scooter had been seized in North West Leicestershire between Nov 2023 and Oct 2024, compared to several hundred in neighbouring Derbyshire.

Cllr Smith highlighted this disparity in his letter to Mr Matthews, questioning why the law appears to be interpreted differently across police forces.

A recent Facebook post by North West Leicestershire Police indicated that first-time offenders are issued a warning, with confiscation only occurring after a second offence.

Coalville North councillor Craig Smith. Photo: Supplied

In his letter, Cllr Smith questioned this approach, asking whether police should be upholding the law from the outset rather than applying a discretionary policy.

In his letter to the MP for North West Leicestershire, Cllr Smith called for a legislative change to bring clarity to the issue.

While he says he does not support an outright ban on e-scooters, he added he believes that proper regulation is needed to ensure they are used safely and responsibly.

He has urged the MP to support a structured licensing system that includes mandatory basic training, safety equipment, and insurance requirements.

Cllr Smith said: "E-scooters are becoming increasingly popular, but the current laws are too vague and open to interpretation.

"This creates a situation where enforcement is inconsistent, and public safety is put at risk. Either these machines need to be banned, or we need clear legislation that allows them to be used responsibly and legally."

He is now calling on local residents to support his campaign by filling out his online petition and voicing their concerns - hoping that, with enough public backing, the issue can be raised in Parliament.

You can let Cllr Smith know your views on the issue by filling out this survey HERE.