Cyprus may require e-scooters to be registered if impounding fails
Transport Minister Evi Tsolaki says a decree allowing police to seize e-scooters is coming, and mandatory registration with plates and inspections could follow if violations persist.
Cyprus is preparing a decree that would let authorities confiscate electric scooters from riders who break the law, Transport Minister Evi Tsolaki told Phileleftheros. She said the government could go further and require every e-scooter to be registered, plated, linked to an owner and technically inspected if the softer measure does not work.
The comments follow mounting concern over crashes involving e-scooters, including the death of 16-year-old Aris Papacharalambous on 26 September, after he was struck by a car while riding in Aglantzia on 7 August. Under current rules riders must be at least 17, wear a helmet, keep to 25 km/h, use compliant roads and meet technical standards, yet breaches are widespread.
Tsolaki said police cannot patrol every street and public space where scooters appear, citing cases of riders on motorways. She has also raised the topic with EU transport ministers in an informal meeting, suggesting a common European framework could eventually be considered.
"We believe this will act as a deterrent, but if we find that it does not, we may bring the discussion about registering scooters back to the table," she said.
What it means for residents
For anyone who uses an e-scooter to get around, the practical message is that the rules already on the books are about to be enforced with real consequences. Impounding means losing the vehicle itself, not just paying a fine, and registration would add paperwork and cost if it arrives.
- Riders: expect police to seize scooters for violations the public consultation on the new decree is now complete, so enforcement can start soon.
- Owners: if registration is introduced, scooters would need identification numbers, documented ownership and technical checks, similar to cars.
- Safety: insurance cover, which Tsolaki said is not currently available for these vehicles, could become possible under a registration system.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
