Sharp Rise in Confiscations Amid Safety Crackdown
The Guàrdia Urbana of L'Hospitalet has seized 661 electric scooters between 1 January and 30 September 2026, according to official figures from the Ajuntament de L'Hospitalet. This represents a 94.4% increase compared to the 340 scooters confiscated in the entire year of 2025. The surge in seizures correlates with intensified police checks on personal mobility vehicles (VMPs), aimed at enforcing traffic regulations and preventing their use in criminal activity. Officers conduct daily inspections across the city, stopping riders to verify compliance with safety and technical standards.
Common Violations and Enforcement Measures
Corporal Jordi of the Guàrdia Urbana highlighted frequent infractions, including riding in pedestrian zones, carrying two people on one scooter, exceeding the 25 km/h speed limit, and modifying scooters to boost performance. Officers use measuring instruments when necessary to confirm violations. Riders must be at least 15 years old, wear a fastened helmet, and have mandatory civil liability insurance. It is also illegal to use mobile phones or headphones while riding, or to operate a scooter under the influence of alcohol or drugs. At night or in poor visibility, scooters must display a luminous or reflective element visible from 150 metres.
After two months of being impounded, if the owner does not come to claim it, we transfer it to the impound lot and begin the procedure to inform the owner that, if they do not collect it, it will be transformed into solid material and will be destroyed by an approved company.
Impound and Destruction Process
Scooters found with serious violations, tampering, or no insurance are taken to the municipal impound lot. If unclaimed after two months, owners are formally notified. Failure to retrieve the vehicle within a further three to five months results in its destruction by an authorised firm. To reclaim a scooter, owners must correct all identified deficiencies, a requirement that often prevents recovery, according to Corporal Jordi.
Link to Crime and Public Safety
While some scooters have been linked to snatch-and-grab robberies and hit-and-run incidents, these cases remain a minority. Vehicles involved in criminal investigations or collisions may be handed over to judicial authorities or the Mossos d’Esquadra, Catalonia’s regional police. The rise in confiscations reflects both the growing popularity of e-scooters and a lack of awareness among users about legal requirements. The Guàrdia Urbana continues to prioritise education and enforcement to improve road safety.
Official Regulations and Resources
Full details on scooter regulations are available through the Ajuntament de L'Hospitalet’s electronic portal, which hosts the city’s ordinances and mobility rules.
Primary sources: Ajuntament de L'Hospitalet. Reported by lhdigital.cat, lavanguardia.com, metropoliabierta.cat, apdnoticies.com, liniaxarxa.cat, LHDigital (L'Hospitalet).
