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France Intensifies Crackdown on Illegal High-Speed E‑Scooters

Police say stricter checks will target illegal speed hacks blamed for rising scooter deaths.

Overview

  • Local police are running more checks with a handheld curvometer that reads a scooter’s factory speed setting, and offenders face €1,500 fines and seizure.
  • Viral clips show riders topping 90 to 100 km/h on public roads, including the Toulouse ring road and central Paris.
  • French law caps e‑scooters at 25 km/h, yet riders can lift the cap with phone apps or software and some show near‑100 km/h on private courses.
  • Repair shops report frequent requests to remove speed limits and say they restore legal settings or refuse service when hardware was cut.
  • Sécurité routière reports 80 scooter deaths last year, up from 45 in 2024, highlighting the risk for riders and people nearby.