A Randers e-scooter dealer says children often push their parents into buying illegal high-speed models, as Danish police step up confiscations and warn parents to take responsibility.
Lasse Petersen, who owns the shop Funwheels in Randers, says parents frequently do not know what they are buying when they purchase fast electric scooters for their children. He told DR that he sees buyers as young as nine years old accompanied by a paying father.
His shop sells both legal models and scooters that can reach up to 70 kilometers per hour, which may not be used on public roads. According to Petersen, the children have researched the products in advance and know the machines are not street legal.
Petersen says he informs customers about the current rules and about the cost of breaking them. He also says some parents are indifferent, and that he would not put his own son on such a scooter on a public road.
Police confiscations and a viral appeal
The debate intensified after Østjyllands Politi posted an appeal on Facebook urging parents to make sure their children are not riding illegal scooters in public areas. Per DR, the post was shared more than 9,000 times and drew over 27,000 interactions.
TV2 Østjylland reported on August 31 that the district has issued several hundred charges over illegal e-scooters in 2026. The same coverage stated that more than 100 confiscated scooters are stored at police stations in Randers and Aarhus.
The Facebook appeal told parents they cannot run from their responsibility. As reported by MigogAarhus, officers stopped a 13-year-old on a scooter capable of 70 kilometers per hour. In another case, they had to chase a 12-year-old who tried to flee on an illegal scooter.
Jyllands-Posten wrote on September 1 that several police districts report a sharp rise in confiscations involving children as young as 12. DR reports that Syd- og Sønderjyllands Politi seized two e-scooters this week, capable of 45 and 85 kilometers per hour.
Trial scheme under review
For the past seven years, a trial scheme has made it legal to ride electric scooters on Danish bike paths. The think tank Tænketanken Trafiksikkerhed has recommended ending the trial and banning the vehicles again, a proposal covered by DR.
Petersen says that would be unfortunate for customers who use the scooters legally. He notes that many of them commute to and from work on the vehicles, with long range and lower costs than driving a car.
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Minister for urban, rural and transport affairs Signe Munk of SF has previously told DR that the trial scheme will be discussed at a later point. Questions of road safety remain central to the debate.
