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After the party, drunk on the e-scooter home? Not a good idea

Photo: Achille Abboud / IMAGO

Anyone who drives drunk with e-scooters and breaks the alcohol limit must fear for the driver's license – without exceptions, a court has now ruled.

In the specific case, an e-scooter driver had been caught at night in Frankfurt am Main with at least 1.64 per thousand. For this, he received a fine of 30 daily rates of 20 euros each from the district court and a six-month driving ban. The driver's license, however, was not withdrawn from the man.

A driving ban is only valid for a limited period of time, the driver's license remains valid - if the driver's license is withdrawn, you are permanently rid of it. According to the ADAC, it must be reapplied for after a blocking period, whereby the applicant may have to undergo a medical-psychological examination (MPU).

The latter should have happened in this case, the Frankfurt Higher Regional Court has now ruled. The public prosecutor's office had appealed against the decision of the district court.

With his thoughtless use of an e-scooter in a significantly intoxicated state, the man had committed a negligent drunk drive, the Higher Regional Court justified. He had "thus proven to be fundamentally unsuitable for driving motor vehicles".

Are the rules for e-scooters too strict?

The withdrawal of the driver's license should not only prevent the perpetrator from continuing to drive drunk motor vehicles, the court explained. Rather, the general purpose is to protect road safety. The district court must now rehear the case. The decision is not subject to appeal.

More on the subject

  • Ahead of Traffic Court Day: Experts propose significantly higher blood alcohol limit for e-scooter riders

  • Higher fines or alcohol ban: Police union pleads for stricter e-scooter rules

So far, the blood alcohol limits for e-scooters have been based on the rules for motorists. This means that if you drive from 0.5 per thousand, you will be fined 500 euros and banned from driving for one month, from 1.1 per thousand you will be fined even higher and the driving licence will be revoked. However, experts are discussing aligning the regulations with those for cyclists – and for them, drunk driving up to 1.6 per thousand is exempt from punishment.

lki/dpa