Police Officer Becomes Suspect While Cracking Down on Unlicensed Electric Scooters... Why?

Grabbed High School Student's Arm While Riding on Sidewalk, Causing Him to Fall
Parents Claim "Injured Due to Excessive Crackdown"

A police officer who was cracking down on unlicensed electric scooters is now facing possible criminal charges after causing a high school student to fall and sustain injuries.

According to a report by Yonhap News Agency on November 1, the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency recently referred Sergeant A, affiliated with a local police station in Incheon, to the prosecution without detention on charges of occupational negligence resulting in injury.

Sergeant A is accused of causing injuries to high school student B at approximately 2:45 p.m. on June 13 in Bupyeong District, Incheon, by causing him to fall while riding an electric scooter. Investigations revealed that Sergeant A attempted to stop B, who was riding the scooter on the sidewalk without a helmet along with another companion, by grabbing his arm.

As a result of the incident, B, who was riding on the back of the electric scooter, experienced symptoms such as convulsions and seizures and was transported to the emergency room, where he was diagnosed with traumatic brain hemorrhage and a skull fracture. It is reported that B was hospitalized for ten days and discharged after his bleeding subsided during treatment. B's parents filed a criminal complaint against Sergeant A for occupational negligence resulting in injury, claiming, "Our son was injured because the police officer suddenly appeared and conducted an excessive crackdown." They have also filed a civil lawsuit for damages.

The police acknowledged that B and his companion were subject to penalties for violating traffic laws. However, they determined that there was a causal relationship between the enforcement action and the injuries, and concluded that Sergeant A's occupational negligence was established.

With Sergeant A, who was performing his duties, suddenly becoming a suspect, there has been a cynical response within the police regarding the effectiveness of electric scooter crackdowns. A police official told Yonhap News Agency, "Private companies enjoy the rental profits from electric scooters, but the police bear all the responsibility, which is an unreasonable structure," adding, "The responsibility of the profit-generating entities should be strengthened."

Of the 35,382 cases of unlicensed personal mobility (PM) operation detected nationwide last year, more than half-19,513 cases (55.1%)-involved drivers aged 19 or younger. There is a risk that officers, like Sergeant A, could become embroiled in lawsuits if accidents occur while restraining or chasing electric scooters that can reach a top speed of 25 km/h.

Current law requires electric scooter operators to have a license, but there is no legal obligation for rental businesses to verify licenses. As a result, even those without a license can easily rent scooters, leading to a continuous stream of related accidents. On October 18, in Songdo International City, Incheon, a woman in her 30s who was walking with her two-year-old daughter was left in critical condition after being struck by an electric scooter ridden by two middle school students.