The Nationalist Party has proposed that speed trackers should be implemented on e-scooters in order to regulate their speed and that helmets for users should be mandatory for all scooter users.

If the speed limit is exceeded then the user will receive a fine. The amount of the fines will depend on how much the speed limit was exceeded and for how long, the party said.

The party is also proposing that any e-scooter user who receives a fine will also be penalised with points on their licence. These points will be added to any existing points received from any other form of transport.

PN have released a number of “solutions” to improve the legislation and enforcement of e-scooters.

They highlighted that the two main points that need to be addressed: the lack of parking spaces for e-scooters and the lack of enforcement.

The party expressed that this long list is the first step to a solution which requires a lot more work, but is a step in the right direction.

Firstly, the PN proposed that e-scooter users must have some form of valid driving license which must be verified by the operator of the rental e-scooter through photographic means before using their services.

The party said that if one is between the age of 16 and 18 then you require an AM category license, but any category of license will be accepted with anyone 18 years or older. The operators must be responsible for keeping a database which carries all the necessary information and regularly updating it whilst abiding by GDPR.

The e-scooter must also have clear visible registration plates, the PN said.

It further states that a mobile application should be made to make it easy to report any e-scooters that are parked badly or vandalised by taking a photo and sharing the location.

With regards to enforcement, the authorities should confiscate any e-scooters that break parking laws. Also, the e-scooter user must shoulder the responsibility to not put others at risk.

PN also proposed that a study needs to be conducted to clarify which roads, pavements and promenades which are safe for e-scooter use. Based on the studies, certain zones will prohibit the use of e-scooters. The infrastructure must be improved in places where e-scooters are permitted.

The party proposed parking bays to be established with e-scooter racks and charging stations and e-scooters cannot be placed anywhere else except in one of these parking areas. Where possible photovoltaic panels should be included, and these parking areas must not obstruct anything, the PN said.

In order to enforce the use of helmets, there will be a number of helmets for people to use at these parking zones, the PN suggested.

To avoid there being a cluster of e-scooters, the party wants the number of rentable e-scooters to cater for the number of parking areas available to avoid there being situations where e-scooters are placed outside parking areas because there is not enough space.

The number of registered e-scooters will also be controlled depending on the parking availability. There must be a valid reason to increase the number of registered e-scooters and the authorities in charge will shoulder this responsibility.

Any fines will be paid directly by operators, who are then responsible to collect the money from the user who broke the law.

PN said that the government and authorities are not acting on enforcing the use of e-scooters. This is why it believes there needs to be a robust legislative framework so the responsibility of enforcement is shared among parties.

The PN said that it will publish more proposals in the future.

The statement was signed by PN MPs Rebekah Cilia, Adrian Delia, Graziella Galea, Eve Borg Bonello, Graziella Attard Previ, and Janice Chetcuti.