Since spring 2026, state police forces in several regions of Germany have observed a rise in cases of illegal modifications to e-scooters. The authorities’ measures range from stepped-up traffic checks to technical inspections and seizure of the vehicles concerned. Specific interventions have recently taken place in separate incidents: In Berlin-Lichtenberg the Polizei secured an e-scooter on 24 April 2026 which, according to officers, could reach nearly 100 km/h. In northern Hesse, police arrested a 22-year-old on 20 August 2026 after footage posted on social media showed speeds of up to 100 km/h. In Baden-Württemberg, the Heilbronn Public Prosecutor’s Office reported a case in mid-October 2026 in which a scooter was said to have reached over 80 km/h; in Ulm an inspection in October 2026 found that a device could travel at up to 135 km/h. These cases are far above the permitted maximum speed of 20 km/h for small electric vehicles on public roads and highlight the danger involved.
In their statements, police and public prosecutors clearly distinguish between regulatory offences, criminal offences and the invalidation of operating licences. According to the authorities, technical modifications invalidate the operating licence, thereby voiding insurance cover and potentially prompting investigations for driving without a licence or endangering road traffic. The offences involve both teenagers and young adults; authorities have repeatedly cited cases in which tuning was carried out through apps, firmware manipulation or the installation of high-performance components.
The reason is that modified e-scooters pose a high risk of accidents owing to changes in their braking and handling, and police request technical assessments to secure evidence. Transport authorities and manufacturers’ warnings also point out that electronic modifications can often be easily reversed, making investigations more difficult.
The current targeted checks have led to more seizures, reports of offences and requests for expert technical inspections. In terms of policy, the cases are being treated internally as grounds for stricter inspection strategies and advice to local authorities and hire companies; no formal legislative changes have so far been announced in published statements. Details of individual speed measurements and locations come from police and local news reports with specific dates, reproduced here verbatim.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).