Since the regulation governing the misuse of PMVs came into force, the local police have confiscated 250 scooters. According to the mayor of Badalona, Xavier Garcia Albiol, during a press conference, these vehicles were primarily impounded for reckless driving, at speeds more suited to motorcycles, or for operating without mandatory insurance.
The mayor highlighted that the Guardia Urbana has recorded over 300 infractions related to PMVs. "We take the fight against those who use scooters not as transport, but as an instrument for crime and to endanger their own safety and that of the residents, very seriously," stated Albiol, although he clarified that not all seized vehicles were used for criminal purposes.
Albiol recounted a personal incident where a scooter was ridden at approximately 60 kilometers per hour on the Rambla. The 250 seized scooters will be transferred to a specialized company for destruction and recycling. "In Badalona, rules are enforced," the mayor declared, asserting that the reduction in dangerous scooters on the streets is already noticeable.
To retrieve a seized scooter, owners must prove ownership. If the vehicle was impounded for lack of insurance, it must be contracted before recovery. For scooters modified to go faster, they can be restored to their original state by a mechanic at the municipal depot. However, none of the 250 confiscated vehicles have been claimed yet.
Fines in Badalona are higher than in Barcelona. Minor infractions are fined at 150 euros (compared to Barcelona's 100), serious offenses reach 300 euros (vs. 200), and very serious ones can amount to 600 euros (vs. 500).
