Laois Gardaí cannot chase bad e-scooter riders for one serious reason
New e-scooters laws face serious holdup to enforcement according to a Portlaoise councillor
E-scooter users driving dangerously in Laois cannot be pursued by the Gardaí, a Laois councillor says.
Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley is acting chair of Laois Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP).
“If the user has an accident from them chasing them, they could lose their licence,” she said.
She spoke at the October meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District, after a motion was tabled by Cllr Tommy Mulligan over what he says are the “serious frights” experienced by Portlaoise pedestrians and motorists.
He says that e-scooters are “flying” on paths and pedestrian crossings, despite the recent new laws making them illegal for under 18’s, with helmets and hi-vis compulsory. Gardaí also have the right to confiscate e-scooters with increased fines to reclaim them.
Cllr Tommy Mulligan wants the Gardaí to go school to school to spell out the dangers of what can happen in crashes.
He tabled a motion to the with his request.
“E-scooters have been well highlighted, for the wrong reasons. I’m still getting lots of calls from the public with concerns. I welcome the new law making them illegal for people aged under 18. Where I see the problem is teenagers, students and non-electric scooters. They go flying on pedestrian crossings and paths.
“Motorists are getting serious frights. There have been accidents involving people not even on the e-scooters. I don’t believe that the public understand the dangers. I think Gardaí are best positioned, they have real life stories to share.
“Recently a Garda came in to our school for Fire Safety Week, they really got their message across.
“This year there have been four fatalities in Ireland from E-scooters and dozens of brain injuries. There was a serious accident outside the hospital in August. God forbid there will be more serious injuries,” he said.
Cllr Mulligan is asking the council to ask the Laois Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP), to in turn ask An Garda Síochána to visit secondary schools in Portlaoise.
Cllr John Joe Fennelly asked for those visits to be extended to Heywood Community School.
“There have been so many near-misses with scooters and bicycles,” he said.
Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley is the acting chair of Laois LCSP.
“I can reassure councillors that this issue has been exhausted at every meeting. We are very aware of the accidents and very near casualties. It has been incorporated into our plans, we are going to try and roll out an awareness campaign,” she said.
“A senior consultant in a Dublin hospital did 11 surgeries in one weekend alone. When he did those surgeries and spoke out, we wrote to the Minister to ask him to review the legislation and it was done.
“It’s vital. I do know that the Gardaí did express concern that they can’t go chasing after them. They are trying to enforce the law but if the user has an accident from them chasing them, they could lose their licence. We are waiting on a safeguard from the Minister,” Cllr Dwane Stanley said.
Laois County Council is going to write to the LLCSP to make the request for school visits.
The new law has also increased fees for the release of a detained e-scooter to €80 for the first day and €30 for each subsequent day.
Legislation states that e-scooters must weigh a maximum of 25 kilograms (including batteries), travel at speeds of 20 km/h or less, have an electric motor with a maximum power output of 400 watts or less, have wheels of at least 200mm diameter, not have a seat, have front and rear lights (switched on during lighting-up hours and darkness), reflectors, front and rear brakes, and a bell. They also must have a manufacturer’s plate showing the power output, weight, and design speed, and be in roadworthy condition, or they are deemed illegal.