Gardaí warn Limerick schools over illegal e-scooter use by 'children and young people'

A TOP LIMERICK garda has written to school principals amid concerns over “children and young people” riding e-scooters in the city.

Superintendent Andrew Lacey has warned officers may seize scooters “to protect young people and our community”.

Under the law, children aged less than 16 are not permitted to use e-scooters.

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And now Supt Lacey has written to schools in bid to highlight the gardai's concerns to principals, students and their parents and guardians.

“We are encountering incidents locally involving children who were unaware they were operating these devices unlawfully,” he wrote.

The letter addressed to principals and school boards of management requests it be shared with students, parents and guardians.

“Education and awareness will help prevent breaches of the law, reduce risk of injury and support a safe school commute for all our stakeholders,” Supt Lacey concluded.

Some 958 fines were issued to e-scooter users in the first two months of 2026, according to figures released to the Oireachtas.

Nationally, 352 e-scooters have been seized by gardai as a crackdown was launched.

Sergeant Kevin Balfe, who is attached to Henry Street garda station’s roads policing unit, said community gardai go into both primary and secondary schools to educate youngsters over e-scooter use.

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“There’s a specific schools programme and as part of that programme, the officers here would talk to the kids in terms of primary schools about the fact they are not covered to be on scooters, end of story.

“They are underage, and even if their parents are using the scooters, the kids can’t be on. There can only be one person on a scooter,” he told Limerick Live.

“In secondary schools, you’re going in on the basis that under-16s can’t be on scooters and when you go 16 and upwards, you talk to them in terms of regulations -what is and isn’t allowed in terms of safety, what they should and should not be doing,” Sgt Balfe added.

The requirement for a legal e-scooter on the road is that it can only go up to a speed of 20km per hour.

Gardai are using what are known as portable dynamometers - compact, treadmill-like devices about 1.5 metres long that determine how fast e-scooters can go.

Even using a scooter 20km per hour, Sgt Balfe said, can do “untold damage,” particularly where they are being used on footpaths.

Asked what advice he would give to parents, he said: “I would be adamant in saying, kids who are underage should not be on them. Those that are on them, it is very important to be visible.

“I don’t know how many times you go down the road at night-time and all you see is a shadow ahead of you or coming against you.”

He said at all times e-scooters should have the flashing light on, front and rear.