Husband has secretly given kids an e-scooter

YANBU

your DH is being very unreasonable to have forced you into a position to have to be the “bad guy” . They are unsafe and you have to put your foot down but it’s very unfair on you .

I know someone who came off one of these and broke their hip , ribs and arm. They had to have a hip replacement at 32.

ZERO chill here, whatever the opinions on scooters, you expressed a concern with your husband regarding your children. In response he:

1. ignored your concerns
2. behaved like a small child by not even telling you that he did it anyway

I would struggle to respect him, especially as he doesn't seem to respect you.

FOURTEEN, HE'S FOURTEEN!

Personally, I didn't understand the OP's thread as being about her 17 yo using an e-scooter but about the fact OP has clearly discussed with her husband about e-scooters and already said that she doesn't want her kids to have them. She's upset that her husband disregarded her opinion and choice and bought one anyways. It's not about her almost adult child making their own choices, but about her partner not acting like one.
I think I'd first have a calm, collected conversion with husband, stating clearly again why I don't want them to have an e-scooter. Then, I'll talk about the betrayal of your word and role as a parent by him buying one anyway. For this convo, I'd write bullet points in advance and try and keep to that, focusing on not losing my cool. Then I'll tell husband that you will both have a conversation with the kids together to explain you will take the e-scooter away and why (your decision rationale + the fact dad should have respected that and he's made a mistake) and proceed to sell the e-scooter.
If the 17 yo wants to buy one when they're 18, cool, but not allowed to store it at your house/garage and the 14yo will have to wait until they're 18 to use it/one.

RTFT

Could you let your kids know that their dad has made a mistake, that the e-scooter road use is illegal, and given you don’t have private land the scooters have now been taken away? Stress to them dad’s error/the law, and keep your opinion/feelings out of it. Show them this re penalties, guidance and gov trial: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/e-scooter-trials-guidance-for-users

Your dh is an idiot for putting your kids and you in this position.

I would have photographed it. Sold it on Facebook marketplace. Dropped it off at the buyers house. Kept the cash. Feigned ignorance when dh mentioned it.

Well as long as your husband is prepared for your children to get a criminal record for:

Driving without a licence (the 17 year old might if he has a provisional licence)
Driving without insurance

Also if one of your children causes an accident who is liable to pay out the damages? Parents, as far as I know, are not liable for their children's damage unless they are negligent. Proving negligence when a parent has bought what is in effect a motor vehicle and let his child use it is a fairly easy task.

Do you have the odd £60 000 hanging around in case one of your children causes an accident?

OP Why not suggest to your husband you hand over the car keys? I'm sure he wouldn't consider it but the same laws apply to e-scooters.

www.south-wales.police.uk/police-forces/south-wales-police/areas/campaigns/campaigns/e-scooters-your-questions-answered/#:~:text=What%20happens%20if%20police%20stop,be%20liable%20to%20be%20prosecuted.

The general consensus appears to be, steal it, hide it, break it, sell it and such. One even suggests selling it and keeping the money to by yourself "something nice".

I can see why you would be annoyed about it all and not want your children on these dangerous things but being a deceitful control freak is not going to do you any favours in the long run.

How about being a grown up and having a conversation with DH about why he felt the need to go behind your back and lie about it.

Kill joy. Sounds like a barrel in your house. Poor DH and kids.

Has the friend seen them on it or have her kids told her that your kids have one and they want one too? Maybe kids don’t do that sort of thing these days but I used to tell my mum that friends had something when I hoped for one, my kids did the same. It did not work but we tried 😂

They aren't dangerous as long as they're used properly - I guess if you've not brought your kids up right if they aren't sensible enough to use one correctly!

Ask your husband how he will feel if his kid gets injured or it gets confiscated?

these decisions should be made together but it’s hard to navigate as why does try e person who says no get to decide for everyone.
I think you now need to go down the route of riding safely for your kids and set some ground rules for use. Eg wearing something bright as the kids I see are in the dark, no lights and wearing black clothing. Practically invisible

My friend’s son died on an e-scooter. She will never get over it. If you need to show them news articles to explain why they can’t have it. If they hate you for it, it won’t be for long. Can you get them something else to replace it - to soften the blow?

she doesn't have to. They have nowhere private to use them and using them in public places is illegal unless rented.

Also your son will be 18 soon and I hate to break it to you but you will have absolutely NO control over what he does or doesn't do or buy at that point .
Shocking I know allowing an adult to make their own decisions

The fact he lied about it and went behind your back is what would wind me up but your kids aren't exactly little and the police will just take it off them if caught which is why I won't buy one , it would be a total waste of money .
What watt are we talking about aswell one that goes a sensible speed or a 1000w that can reach 30+mph

Agreed. I’d have gone to check, it was there, stuck it in my car, and taken it to the nearest police station and handed it in. I’d have asked if a PCSO can come and have a chat with my moron of a DH.

Fine if people are using these to commute, when it’s legal, not fine when kids are whizzing around on them illegally causing a nuisance. The fact is your DH went behind your back, I’d be fuming. My DD used one her cousins had, and broke her wrist.

Get rid of it. Don’t worry about being a fun mum. They are dangerous if they are using it on the road, not only from falling off, likely without a helmet but also because of other road users and a lack of knowledge of the high way code. From experience within my work, they are a serious injury waiting to happen. If you wouldn’t let them have a moped, don’t let them have one of these.

Then discuss with your husband why he feels the need to do this behind your back and is happy to put your children at risk?