[Bunny_]

The hoverboard problematic

Driving a motorized vehicle requires a license, the drivers license. (Once using such a vehicle in a public street (Including parking lots)). Sounds locigal, right? According to §4 FEV I every motorized vehicle requires a license. § 6 FEV does set the driver license classes:

Here are the biggest ones:

A Class (Motorcycles)
(AM, A1, A2, A)
B Class (Personal Vehicle)
(B, B69 (Special class not set with §6, however worth to mention), BE)
C Class (Trucks)
(C1, C1E, C, CE)
D Class (Buses)
(D1, D1E, D, DE)

Since for example normal bikes are not motorized, you dont require a license for those. §4 I Nr. 1 FEV also expects bikes with electronic motors (If not going over 25 KM/H) from requireing a license.

Now, last year has created a trend vehicle - the hoverboard. That little, slow board with two wheels. You stand on it, hoping not to fall over.

Now, this hoverboard is a motorized vehicle. Using it on a public street does require a license as stated in §4 FEV. Which one tho? A little one?

A hoverboard has two wheel in "2 Spuren" (Two lanes), left and right. This disqualifies the hoverboard to be classified as a motorbike. This means that you need a Class B Driver license - for normal vehicles, to operate a hoverboard.

NOTE: Obtaining a B Class license can easily cost you 1600€ & 6 Months of schooling

You therefore commit a crime "Driving without drivers license." §21 StVG.

Is that not bad enough already? Think abit out of the box. What does a normal vehicle require? Exactly - A regestration. Using such a vehicle without a registration is a traffic offence

"Driving without registration" - Fahren ohne Zulassung - § 3 I FZV

And what do you usually pay for one? Taxes. Im not joking, you also commit the crime

"Tax evasion" Steuerhinterzug - KraftStG i.V.m § 370 AO

You also need to insure any vehicle that requires a proper registration. Not doing so is a crime according to § 6 Pflichtversicherungsgesetz.

To sum it up:
Driving a hoverboard on german streets without a license or registration will lead you to commit atleast 3 Crimes and 1 Offence.

What about segways?


Segways however are expected from requireing a license. (Mobilitätshilfeverordnung)