Kean bans hoverboards on university campuses

This past season's most popular holiday gift is now banned from at least one college campus in New Jersey.

Kean University in Union posted a message on its Twitter page Monday stating that hoverboards are banned on campus due to potential fire and safety hazards.

Hoverboards, which don’t hover at all, and are actually a type of scooter, were one of the most popular gifts of the 2015 Christmas season. But they've already received a lot of unwanted attention after reports of the devices catching fire in several cases across the U.S., including New Jersey. In a December statement from Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Elliot Kaye, he said he’s directed agency staff to work “non-stop” to find the root cause of the fire hazard.

In addition, numerous people in the Garden State suffered injuries while attempting to ride the hoverboards after receiving them as holiday gifts.

Kean Spokeswoman Susan Kayne told NJ Advance Media that the university "will confiscate any hoverboard found on either its Union or Ocean campus."

The university made the decision to ban hoverboards from the campuses at the recommendation of the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety, NJ Advance Media reported. Fire safety officials suggested that all colleges prohibit them, Kayne told the website.

Toniann Antonelli is the digital managing editor for news at NJ 101.5. Reach her at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.

Dino Flammia contributed to this story.