Alicante police have issued more than 2,500 fines for scooter violations so far this year

As part of the road safety and urban coexistence strategy, the Alicante Local Police have issued over 2,500 penalties this year for “failures to comply with the correct use of personal mobility vehicles (PMVs),” including electric scooters, skates, skateboards, and similar devices.

According to a statement from the Alicante City Council, the majority of the penalties are imposed for riding without a helmet, in a pedestrian zone, with more than one person, or while using headphones.

Julio Calero, the Councillor for Security, underscored that “the Local Police have increased their surveillance of the use of private vehicles in response to the proliferation, particularly of electric scooters, which has resulted in over 2,500 fines so far this year.”

The councillor also mentioned that enforcement has been heightened and that specific campaigns have been implemented to “encourage responsible use of these means of transport in the city, ensure pedestrian safety, and reduce violations.”

Officers issue the most frequent forms of fines, including driving without a helmet (806), driving in a pedestrian zone without authorisation (440), carrying more than one person (352), and using headphones or earphones connected to devices (157).

In addition, 130 reports were submitted for negligent or hazardous driving, over 100 for running stoplights or traffic signals, and 26 for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Calero cited the enforcement campaign conducted by the Department of Security and the Local Police from March 15 to 30 as an “example of this planning.” This campaign yielded 315 complaints, primarily for the act of driving in unauthorised pedestrian areas and on unauthorised roads.

Officers visited 117 educational centres in the city between March 11th and 14th to inform students about requirements, characteristics, and various types of vehicles, as well as traffic regulations on urban roads. This action was conducted concurrently with the previous one.

The chief of the area underscored the importance of “VPM drivers knowing how and where to drive” in order to comply with municipal ordinances and enhance road safety in this context. He also regarded the road safety education activities conducted by the Local Police in schools as “fundamental,” which complemented events such as Mobility Week.

Calero stated that they are currently engaged in a series of campaigns to “improve road safety,” including the installation of new radars at the city’s main entrances and the regulation of scooters and other public transport vehicles (VPM). These initiatives have successfully reduced the speed limit on a road to 50 kilometres per hour, thereby enhancing road safety and reducing the risk of accidents.

“This series of enforcement campaigns has also concentrated on the prevention of uncontrolled waste dumping and street cleaning, which led to 100 complaints within a 10-day period.” He further stated, “We have implemented an informational and outreach campaign in the city’s schools in addition to the enforcement of PMVs.”

Conversely, the municipal campaign has also underscored the areas where electric scooters are prohibited, including sidewalks, paved walkways, pedestrian zones, cycle lanes, bus lanes and the TRAM platform.

Therefore, controls have been implemented in various regions of the city, including the axis of Avenida Jijona, Plaza de España and Plaza de Santa Teresa, Town Hall and Old Town, Avenida Alfonso El Sabio, Central Market and Avenida Jaime II, City of Assisi, San Blas, North Zone, Benalúa and Babel, beaches, the axis of Calle Pintor Baeza-Colombia, Altozano and Los Ángeles, La Florida, the southern zone surrounding Avenida Elche, Gran Vía, and San Gabriel.

In a different context, this campaign aims to “prosecute negligent or reckless driving” and “ensure respect for pedestrians’ right of way and speeds that are appropriate for pedestrians.”

Electric-powered MPVs are restricted to a single passenger and require a minimum age of 16. Fines ranging from €100 to €500 may be imposed for violations of the municipal ordinance.

Calero observed that the operation of electric scooters and other MPVs necessitates the exercise of caution, the prioritisation of pedestrians, and respect for other road users.

In the same vein, the councillor underscored the necessity of “all users being cognisant of the mandatory requirement to wear a protective helmet, refrain from riding on sidewalks or pedestrian areas, and adhere to speed limits of up to 25 kilometres per hour.”