Drivers have been warned they could face penalty points on their licence and hefty fines for crimes committed by their children under UK law.
According to reports, parents could face a £300 fine and six penalty points on their driving licences if their children are caught riding illegal e-bikes on UK roads.
The penalties, which are designed to crack down on non-compliant e-bikes, can be transferred from under-18s to their parents under a specific section of law.
These sanctions issued by police apply when young people are found riding e-bikes which fail to meet the UK’s legal requirements.
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Drivers can face £300 penalties on behalf of their children for having illegal e-bikes
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If stopped by police, non-compliant e-bikes can be seized under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 for having no insurance.In the UK, e-bikes are currently subject to a range of requirements to be considered legal.
This includes having a motor which does not exceed 250 watts in power and can only go 15.5mph, according to Department for Transport guidelines.
Crucially, these bikes must be pedal-assist only, meaning the motor provides power only when the rider is actively pedalling rather than being wholly powered through the motor, which would then require it to have insurance.
Legal e-bikes should display a plate on their frame showing the power output of the motor and the manufacturer’s details, along with a CE mark, experts detailed.
While the e-bikes can be ridden by anyone aged 14 or over, if stopped by police and found to be non-compliant, riders can face serious action. This includes having the e-bikes immediately taken by police as well as being fined and subsequentlicence points given to parents if the rider is under 18.
David Miall, founder of Wisper Bikes and founding member of The British Electric Bicycle Association said: “First of all, it depends on where you buy it from. If you’re buying it from a bona fide electric bike shop, the likelihood is it will be legal.
“And the most important thing is to check the plaque that’s on every legal electric bike. It will have the CE mark, the motor and the details of the manufacturer, and sometimes even the seller.”
While high street retailers typically stock compliant models, e-bikes purchased second-hand or via online can originate from countries with different regulations with them often fitted with higher speeds.
On top of penalty points being transferred to parents, they could also face significantly higher insurance premiums and potential legal complications.
In more serious cases, if any penalty points have been accumulated before a full driving licence is obtained it could lead to an automatic ban under the New Drivers Act, according to The Ethical Choice.
The e-bike insurer explained: “Part of the problem is confusion over which e-bikes are road legal. Many retailers fail to make the distinction clear, with some even marketing high-powered models as suitable for road use. This leaves parents unwittingly buying what they think is a safe, fun mode of transport, but is in fact an illegal vehicle.”
To help increase the safety measures on e-bikes and to ensure parents don’t get fined unnecessarily, the insurer has been calling for mandatory CE marking on all e-bikes.
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The markings would ensure that no illegal bikes are purchased by riders and guarantee that the e-bike meets UK Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle regulations.
The insurer added: “This wouldn’t just help buyers. It’d make life easier for insurers, retailers, and even the police, who currently have to deal with the growing number of illegal e-bikes on the roads.
“Right now, it’s all too easy to end up with what is technically a moped or electric motorbike that requires a licence, insurance, and registration.”
