Bettws man’s anger as police impound electric bike (From South Wales Argus)

Bettws man’s anger as police impound electric bike

6:20pm Wednesday 17th March 2010

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AN EPILEPSY sufferer who drives an electrically-assisted pedal bike had it impounded after a police officer mistook it for a real scooter.

Adrian Tambling, 36, of Riverside, Newport, was riding the battery-powered bike in Bettws Lane, Bettws, on March 8, when a police officer confiscated it under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act because he believed Mr Tambling was riding without a driving licence and insurance.

Mr Tambling said he tried to explain that as the bike was not classed as a motor vehicle it did not need either but the officer took the bike and he was forced to walk back home.

He then had to collect the bike, which does a maximum speed of 15 mph, from a compound in Nelson, but said the police did not charge him to get it back.

Mr Tambling, who uses the £600 bike to get around because he is not allowed to drive a car because of his epilepsy, said this was the eighth time he had been stopped since he bought the bike last October, and he had complained to Gwent Police.

He said: “It is my only form of transport, it’s really pathetic.”

“I just get the feeling I’m going to be pulled over again,” he added.

A spokeswoman for Gwent Police said as a result of enquiries it was found the bike was exempt from insurance and a licence and arrangements were made for it to be returned to Mr Tambling.

She said they were now in the process of briefing all officers who have the power to seize vehicles.

She added they had received correspondence from Mr Tambling and would be looking into his complaint and talking to him to discuss his concerns.

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