Tokyo police turned over to prosecutors Friday their case against a businessman who asked an employee to ride a U.S.-made Segway scooter on a public street, allegedly in violation of the Road Traffic Law.

Police allege that the 42-year-old president of an import company in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, violated the law by having a person drive a Segway on the street in July for advertising purposes.

It is the first time in Japan that police have taken action over a person riding the two-wheeled vehicle.

The businessman had a person in charge of promotional events ride the Segway up and down Takeshitadori Street in the trendy Harajuku district of Tokyo for about 30 minutes, police said.

The Segway is classified as a motorcycle under the law. But driving it on public thoroughfares is illegal because it is not equipped with parts such as brakes, lights and turn signals.

"We hope that people will realize that under the current law, the Segway cannot be used on public roads, and that they should keep to legal places such as parks and university campuses," a police official said.

Police quoted the man as saying he thought he would only be fined and that he wanted the law changed to allow for Segways to be driven on public roads, as in the United States.

The Segway Human Transporter, invented by U.S. innovator Dean Kamen, was launched in the U.S. in November 2002.

Users stand between two wheels and move forward, back, left and right by shifting body weight. The Segway can travel as fast as 19 kph.

Around 50 Segways have been imported to Japan since March.

According to a police investigation, the businessman, whose name was not provided, began importing Segways that month and held promotional events between June and November in areas that include Osaka, and Shimane and Hyogo prefectures.

The import price of a Segway was around 900,000 yen, but he lowered the retail price to 850,000 yen to boost sales. His company's Web site had a disclaimer saying Segways cannot be driven on public roads in Japan.

Taiichi Wada, owner and president of Colorado-based exporter Englishrobin Co., said he hopes Japanese laws will be revised to let Segway owners use public roads. The company has exported around 20 Segways to Japan.

"In the U.S., the vehicle is already being used in states such as Washington and Florida," Wada said. "Unless the law is changed, its use will be limited."