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| Metropolitan Police have warned that the Christmas must-have is in fact illegal in the UK |
THE Metropolitan Police have warned Hoverboard owners that their new devices are illegal on pavements AND roads.
Back to the Future fans will be sorely disappointed.
Hoverboards – or self-balancing scooters, to use their full name – are illegal to ride in public, according to new guidelines published by the Crown Prosecution Service.
The self-balancing two-wheeled boards, essentially Segways without the handle, have been deemed too unsafe to use on the road, but too dangerous to use on the pavement.
As a result, the futuristic personal transport devices can only be used on private land, provided that you have the property owner's permission.
The Crown Prosecution Service guidance is the same as that issued for Segway scooters.
Both devices are deemed illegal for use on the pavement under section 72 of the Highway Act 1835.
In Scotland, where the same legislation does not apply, the popular gadgets are still illegal under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984.
The recent resurgence of hoverboards prompted police to post a tweet reminding prospective buyers of the law.
Simon Benson of hoverboard distributor Ghetto Gadgets, told The Guardian that the legal clarification should not impact sales – and could even boost customer interest in the device.
"If the authorities give any impression that the use of hoverboards in some circumstances is unlawful, then I expect sales to soar," he said.
"Clearly customers need to take advice, but millennials are not going to take kindly to the authorities using a law that pre-dates the penny-farthing to tell them what they can or can’t do on the streets of Britain."
Own one of these or thinking about getting one? They're illegal to ride in public! Info here: http://t.co/We85yLAzsU pic.twitter.com/vMm0hxNAjs
— MPS Specials (@MPSSpecials) October 11, 2015
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