Two teenage boys were fined hundreds of dollars each after they allegedly tried evading police on an e-scooter and e-motorcycle in B.C.’s Lower Mainland. Authorities said the incident highlights growing concerns around the illegal use of the devices in the province—as well as the serious safety risks riders can face. The teens were spotted zooming alongside traffic on Mission’s Cedar Street back in June, according to the RCMP. “Both were travelling above the posted speed limit,” the Mission detachment said in a news release Tuesday. “Both also fled after the officer tried to pull them over.” Mission is not participating in the province’s e-scooter pilot project, meaning the devices are not legally allowed on either the city’s streets or sidewalks. Const. Harrison Mohr told CTV News authorities chose to publicize the incident in August because back to school season is approaching. “We wanted to remind parents and youth of the potential safety risks and financial penalties associated with riding e-scooters and other illegal devices on city streets,” Mohr said in a statement. The teenagers—who were 15 and 16, respectively—were ultimately caught and handed fines for not wearing helmets, speeding in a playground zone, failing to stop for police, driving without consideration, operating a kick scooter outside a cycling lane, driving without a licence and not having insurance. Each boy was given upwards of $700 in penalties, Mohr said. Authorities have warned families that even in municipalities that are participating in B.C.’s pilot project, riders must be at least 16 years old to operate an e-scooter. The devices must meet certain requirements as well, including that they are not capable of exceeding the current provincial e-scooter speed limit of 25 km/h per hour.
