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Small, electric scooters have changed the face of urban transportation. Go to Washington D.C., Austin, or San Diego, and you’ll likely spend some of your walking efforts side-stepping these little electric machines. Unfortunately, many urban dwellers choose to combine these easy, grab-and-go transportation solutions with alcohol. So, can you get a DUI on a scooter the same way that you can while driving a car?

It is possible to get a DUI on a scooter, even the little electric ones

It might seem like an easy solution for urban social butterflies after a night of frivolity. Just grab one of those app-based electric scooters and zoom the few miles home. However, riding one of these two-wheeled EVs could be a question of safety and could land you in hot water with the police.

According to Suhre & Associates, the definition of a vehicle comes into play regarding a DUI on a scooter. For instance, Kentucky state law 189.010 labels a vehicle as just about any conveyance you’d drive on public roads, including a rental scooter on roads, sidewalks, highways, and even parking lots. So you don’t live in Kentucky? Doesn’t matter. California, Colorado, Texas, and just about every other state classify an e-scooter as a motorized vehicle.

Consequently, should you hop on a scooter with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 or higher, you might incur a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) charge. It doesn’t matter if it is a two-stroke ICE scooter or an e-scooter, your little motorized vehicle is no place for a drunk operator.

Some states don’t even allow that much BAC. For instance, in Utah, motorists, and scooter riders for that matter, are permitted just 0.05 BAC, per DrivingLaws. However, according to Attorney Jeff Burtka, “Wisconsin excludes electric scooters from the definitions of ‘vehicle’ and ‘motor vehicle’.”

Moreover, like incurring a DUI in a car, truck, or SUV, a scooter rider can expect steep penalties. Even though an e-scooter doesn’t require a driver’s license or license plate, offenders can expect repercussions like license suspension, fines, and court-mandated punishments like an interlock device.

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Staff Writer

Erik Sherman

Erik Sherman joined the MotorBiscuit team as an Autos Writer in 2022. An admitted petrolhead and an avid motorcyclist, Erik has owned everything from classic cars to motorcycles to modern driver’s cars. Erik also has extensive experience with military and emergency vehicles, ranging from ambulances and fire engines to MRAPs and M-ATVs. Erik is an eager car and motorcycle reviewer with experience covering everything from sports cars to pontoon boats and jet skis.

Erik holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations (IRG) from the University of Texas at Austin and has studied Chinese, Energy, and European Politics at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Erik’s background is unorthodox; he is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat veteran, water survival practitioner, and a former firefighter/EMT. Additionally, Erik is a regular volunteer and former instructor with the American Red Cross (ARC).