Northampton man's 15-month driving ban for riding e-scooter drunk

A Northampton man was hit with a 15-month driving ban after being breath-tested while riding a rented electric scooter in the town.

Lucas Keith Nicholson was stopped by police in Kettering Road at around 9.30pm on October 10.

The 22-year-old's test revealed 57 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Nicholson, of Longland Road, was also ordered to pay £338 in fines and surcharges when he appeared at Northampton Magistrates Court earlier this month.

Police issued a warning following the Voi scheme's launch in September that rented e-scooters are classified as Personal Light Electric Vehicles.

Superintendent Adam Ward 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.”

Around 300 scooters were made available to rent in Northampton using a smart phone app were heralded as a clean alternative to public transport and car sharing during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Another 50 were made available in Kettering as Voi extended the scheme earlier this month.

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