Josip Mataija announces that parents, godparents, and anyone who gives an electric scooter to a child under 14 will face penalties. Three minors have already had their scooters confiscated in Đurđevac and Koprivnica.
The Croatian Police Directorate has announced new fines for adults who allow children to ride electric scooters, marking a significant step forward in the fight against the illegal use of these vehicles by minors.
Josip Mataija, head of the Road Traffic Safety Division at the Police Directorate, told HRT that a new penalty targeting adults who give children access to scooters is being introduced. "We are introducing a new fine, and it applies to adults, not just parents. A godparent, for example, could be liable. Confirmation season is in full swing, and you have situations where a godparent buys a child a scooter, essentially handing them a dangerous vehicle," Mataija explained.
Under the current Road Traffic Safety Act, electric scooters may only be ridden by individuals aged 14 and over. Despite this, underage riders are an increasingly common sight on Croatian roads, with many well below the legal age. A particular concern is that many of these scooters have technical specifications that exceed the limits permitted by law.
The new measure will apply not only to parents but to any adult who enables a child to use an electric scooter. This includes situations where godparents, relatives, or other adults gift these vehicles to children, a practice that has become widespread during celebrations such as confirmations and other family events.
Police action on the ground already reflects the scale of the problem. Yesterday, officers temporarily confiscated electric scooters from three minors after the vehicles were found to exceed legally permitted technical specifications. Two minors were stopped around 3 p.m. in Đurđevac, while a third was apprehended around 11 p.m. in Koprivnica. Misdemeanour proceedings will be initiated against all three for violations of the Road Traffic Safety Act.
These cases are far from isolated. Electric scooters are becoming an ever more common sight on Croatian streets, and the majority of riders are minors. The problem is compounded by the fact that many of the scooters involved are too powerful to be legally used in public spaces in the first place.
The new adult fines are designed to put a stop to reckless electric scooter use and prevent potential accidents. Police want to shift responsibility onto those who provide minors with access to these vehicles, not just the young riders themselves.
The measures are aimed at improving road safety and reducing the risk of accidents caused by inexperienced young riders using electric vehicles in public spaces. Police are once again urging the public to respect traffic regulations and the age restrictions that apply to electric scooter use.
