Fines Up to 100,000 Rubles for Riding Two on an Electric

Call to Toughen Penalties for Riding Two on an Electric Scooter

Jan Khaitser, Vice President of the National Association of Insurers (NAI), on September 1, 2026, proposed increasing fines for carrying passengers on a single electric scooter by twofold or more. He suggested setting administrative fines up to 100,000 rubles to reduce the number of violations and enhance road safety.

Khaitser’s position came in response to the rise in incidents involving electric scooters in major cities, including Moscow and Saint Petersburg, where the number of users has grown by 35% over the past two years. The expert believes that the current fines of 500 rubles are ineffective.

Current Fine Situation and Rental Service Practices

At the federal level, there are plans to increase fines to 5,000 rubles, which is ten times the previous maximum. The draft law is currently under discussion in the State Duma and may be approved by the end of 2026.

Meanwhile, Moscow’s electric scooter rental services, such as Yandex.Scooter and Citydrive, have independently implemented fines of up to 100,000 rubles since August 2026 for violations including riding with a passenger and lending scooters to minors. On September 13, 2026, Yandex issued such a fine to a user for the first time, setting a precedent for the industry.

Reasons for the Need to Toughen Penalties

According to the Moscow Department of Transport, over 1,200 electric scooter accidents were recorded in the first half of 2026, with approximately 27% linked to carrying a second passenger. These incidents often result in serious injuries and even fatalities.

Experts believe that raising fines should act as a deterrent and encourage rental services to more strictly monitor customer behavior. Jan Khaitser emphasized that with increased financial penalties, companies will be more motivated to block users who violate rules.

Industry and Expert Reactions

Vladimir Smirnov, Head of Safety at Yandex.Scooter, noted that a high fine of 100,000 rubles is an effective tool to ensure discipline among renters and prevent dangerous situations on the roads. He confirmed that in 2026 the company plans to expand the use of penalty sanctions.

At the same time, some experts caution the need for a balanced approach so as not to discourage users, considering that the average scooter rental cost is about 150 rubles for 20 minutes. They propose simultaneously developing infrastructure and safe operation rules.

Prospects for Legislative Changes

The draft law to increase fines to 5,000 rubles will be considered by the State Duma in October 2026. If passed, regions will gain the authority to impose additional penalties up to 100,000 rubles, as already implemented in Moscow.

The introduction of these new fines could become a precedent for regulating electric scooters in other Russian megacities, where the number of users exceeded 2 million in 2026. This will help systematize rules and increase accountability for traffic violations.

Main takeaway: tightening fines up to 100,000 rubles for riding two on an electric scooter is a key step toward enhancing safety and discipline on the roads of Russia’s major cities.