Three teenagers riding a single electric scooter in Hérault ran a red light directly in front of a gendarmerie patrol on August 22, 2026, prompting a roadside intervention by law enforcement. According to the French National Gendarmerie, the minors escaped formal prosecution but received a strict verbal warning alongside a mandatory safety debriefing.
The incident unfolded when the Gendarmerie de l’Hérault patrol spotted the overloaded two-wheeler navigating through traffic.
Safety Violations and Legal Requirements
Upon inspecting the electric scooter, officers uncovered multiple infractions under French traffic laws. According to the gendarmerie, the vehicle lacked mandatory insurance coverage, and none of the three occupants wore helmets or protective gear.
Furthermore, investigators established that the oldest rider was only 13 years old. Under French regulations enacted in 2023, operators of electric scooters must be at least 14 years old to legally drive them on public roads.
Gendarmerie Enforcement and Penalties
The teenagers were permitted to leave the scene on foot following the intervention. Officers issued a formal reminder regarding national transit laws governing personal mobility devices.
According to the Hérault gendarmerie, current regulations strictly prohibit carrying passengers on electric scooters regardless of age. Operators must respect traffic lights, designated bicycle lanes, and speed limits, while maintaining valid insurance coverage equivalent to other motor vehicles. Authorities also emphasized that tampering with speed limiters to exceed the legal maximum of 25 km/h remains strictly illegal and exposes operators to criminal liability in the event of an accident.