In 2023, the Municipal Police of Girona multiplied the fines for infractions with electric scooters by six. Between July 1 and December 15, 964 complaints were filed, while in 2022 only 151 were recorded in the same period. 69% of the sanctions, a total of 666, were for driving on the sidewalk.
Other common violations have been not respecting traffic signs or not making good use of electric scooters. Specifically, in 2023, 156 sanctions were imposed for two people riding a scooter, 50 for not respecting the traffic light, 44 for using a cell phone or headphones, 35 for going in a prohibited direction and 13 more for other reasons.
During 2024, in order to reduce the number of infractions, the Girona Municipal Police will continue to carry out specific and periodic campaigns. The agents who patrol the city will focus especially on personal mobility vehicles (VMP) that do not comply with current regulations.
The mayor of Convivència i Seguretat Ciutadana, Sílvia Aliu, highlights that the priority of mobility in the city "is always pedestrians." In this sense, she highlights the importance of removing scooters from sidewalks, which is the place where most dangerous situations arise with people on foot.
"Electric scooters can be allies for sustainable mobility, but we must be able to guarantee that they circulate in authorized places," explains the councilor.
Since the ordinance on the circulation of personal mobility vehicles was implemented in 2020, which includes, among others, electric scooters, the Municipal Police has carried out information campaigns, first, and later, sanctioning campaigns. In 2023, 525 devices have been carried out, resulting in 2,020 controlled scooters and 964 complaints.
