A Northampton man has been convicted of riding an electric scooter whilst over the drink drive limit.
Lucas Keith Nicholson, 22, of Longland Road, Northampton, admitted a charge of driving a motor vehicle whilst the amount of alcohol in his breath exceeded the prescribed limit when he appeared at Northampton Magistrates' Court last week.
This is an offence contrary to section 5(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988, which has a maximum penalty of 6 months' custody and/or an unlimited fine.
He was stopped by police as he drunkenly rode along the town's Kettering Road at around 9.30 pm on Saturday, 10th October 2020.
Suspecting Nicholson had consumed alcohol the officers required him to undertake a roadside breath test, which he failed. He was arrested and taken to the police station, where he provided an evidential specimen containing 57 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit being 35 microgrammes.
Magistrates fined Nicholson £220 and ordered him to pay £85 towards prosecution costs and £34 victim surcharge.
They also disqualified him from driving for a period of 15 months.
There are around 300 scooters available for public hire in Northampton. They are classified as personal light electric vehicles and subject to many of the normal rules of the road.
Superintendent Adam Ward, of Northamptonshire Police, said: "It is important to remember that an electric scooter is still classified as a motor vehicle and, as such, the rider is subject to the same requirements as driving a car, and having a driving licence and insurance.
"If anyone is caught riding a rented electric scooter dangerously or while under the influence of drink or drugs then you could be convicted of offences which might lead to a prison sentence."
Worth bearing in mind if you ever find yourself scootering in a public place.
No comments:
Post a Comment