Drunk on the A40, the couple made their way to the police station to retrieve their partner.
In Germany, the use of e-scooters under the influence of alcohol or drugs is strictly prohibited by law, as reported in two separate incidents in Bochum and Dortmund [1].
On Sunday evening (10.08.), a Volkswagen with three men was stopped by deployment forces in Bochum on Essen Street. A voluntary drug test revealed the presence of cocaine in the driver's system, and a breath alcohol test showed he was over the legal limit of 0.5 promille. The driver, a 23-year-old from Dortmund, was also found to be in possession of a fake driver's license.
Meanwhile, in Dortmund, another group of friends, including the passenger from the previous incident, were found on an e-scooter on the A40 motorway. The e-scooter driver showed signs of alcohol and cocaine use, and a preliminary breath test revealed over two promille for one of the passengers. A doctor was called for a blood test of the e-scooter driver, and a voluntary drug test confirmed the presence of cocaine in the passenger's system.
The legal alcohol limit for e-scooter riders is consistent with limits applied to other motorized vehicles, and riding above this limit can lead to penalties similar to DUI charges. E-scooters are legally recognized in Germany, but misuse under impairment is not allowed, reflecting a strong safety focus to reduce accidents related to intoxication. Riders are also generally required to follow additional safety rules, such as carrying lights and reflectors [2].
Research indicates a considerable proportion of e-scooter accidents involve alcohol consumption, raising safety concerns [3]. Enforcement of laws against drunk riding on e-scooters aligns with the approach for bicycles and motor vehicles to maintain public safety [1][3].
Both the Bochum police and the Dortmund police will continue to prosecute persons who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. From 1.1 promille, it is a criminal offense under § 316 StGB.
Sources:
[1] Bundesverkehrsamt (2021). E-Scooter-Verordnung
[2] EU-Kommission (2020). Mikromobilität
[3] Kraus, S. (2021). E-Scooter-Unfälle: Alkohol und Drogen betrügen viele Fahrer
