The Crown Prosecution Service has ruled that hoverboards – also known as self-balancing scooters – are illegal to ride in public in Britain.
The move could come as a disappointment to many following a recent surge in hoverboard sales, helped by celebrities such as the Beckham family.
CPS guidance argues that under legislation they are too unsafe for either the road or the pavement and as a result must only be used on private land with the owner’s permission.
The devices are illegal to ride on the road as they do not meet requirements under the European or British rules to be registered as road-legal vehicles.
As powered vehicles they are illegal to ride on the pavement under section 72 of the Highway Act 1835, while in Scotland, where the act does not apply, they are still illegal to ride on the pavement under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, the Guardian reports.
