DUI On A Scooter

Summertime entails getting outside and taking advantage of the pleasant weather. People are out riding their scooters in greater numbers. BBQs and get-togethers are becoming increasingly popular among family and friends. Based on this, you and your friends are more likely to partake in an adult beverage. You’ve probably heard it before: driving a car with a blood alcohol level of.08 percent or higher is illegal. “Can you get a DUI while riding a scooter”? This is a question that people are looking for an answer to.

Simply put, don’t do it.

To be honest, we believe the better question is whether or not you should ride a scooter while inebriated. The simple answer is a resounding “No!” You should not operate any vehicle, including a scooter, while under the influence for your own safety and the safety of others on the road.

Alcohol impairs judgment and slows reaction time, as we all know. You endangering not only your own safety but also the safety of those around you if you ride a bike or scooter while inebriated. While the legality of riding a bike or scooter while intoxicated varies by jurisdiction, we strongly advise you not to do so.

Local and State Laws

State and local laws will determine whether you can get a DUI while riding a scooter. It’s also good to know that this is a rapidly evolving area of law in response to the new forms of electric transportation that continue to appear on our streets and sidewalks every day.

Some states have penalties for these activities that are similar to, if not identical to, those associated with a DUI while operating a motor vehicle. This particular offense is treated as a misdemeanor in some states, with fines, jail time, driver’s license suspension, community service, and a substance abuse evaluation as penalties.

The way the state statute is written is the deciding factor. A DUI in some states, for example, is defined as operating a “motor vehicle” with a blood alcohol level of.08 percent or higher. Other state statutes define “vehicle” as “any and all devices capable of being moved or transporting people.” This distinction is important because it will help determine whether or not the law applies to a scooter.

Kansas Statutes

Drinking and driving are currently prohibited in Kansas for all vehicles, according to the law. Bicycles, however, are not included. Many local ordinances, on the other hand, include bicycles.

Missouri’s Legal System

A driver is guilty of a DUI in Missouri if they operate a motor vehicle while inebriated, according to the law. As a result, a bicycle would be exempt from the law. That isn’t to say that it wouldn’t be a violation of a local ordinance.

Scooters and mopeds are considered motor vehicles in Missouri. If the scooter is motorized, has an automatic transmission, and has a cylinder capacity of less than 50 cubic centimeters (commonly referred to as “cc’s”), a driver’s license is required to operate the vehicle, and it may be subject to the DUI law. In Kansas City, drivers of Bird or Lime electric scooters have been charged with DUI.