A 19-year-old electrician who was caught drink driving after an eagle-eyed CCTV operator spotted him riding an e-scooter through a red light has appeared before the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court.
The court heard that Abe Nobuchika of Leighwood Close, Ryde, had left a drinking establishment in the town late in the evening of 23rd July when he decided to hire a Beryl e-scooter in order to travel home – spurred on by the impending rain.
Nobuchika, who has recently completed several training courses funded by his employer and was set to become the principal electrician of the local firm, had been at college earlier in the day and had been invited for a drink by a friend. Barry Arnett, defending, told Magistrates that 1 drink became several and that the accused made an innocent mistake when deciding to use the e-scooter as a means to get home.
Magistrates heard from the prosecution that the 19-year-old – who held a provisional license and was planning to take his driving test in the near future – was caught on CCTV riding through a red light and riding through a pedestrianised zone. The operator promptly informed the police.
Police attended Ashey Road and spotted Nobuchika parking up the scooter at the bay on Leighwood Close, just yards from his home. A statement relied upon by the defence told that the defendant had been fully cooperative with officers and undertook a roadside breath test, in which he blew 78 microgrammes per 100ml of breath. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of drink driving.
Nobuchika pleaded guilty at the first opportunity at this morning’s hearing, with mitigating factors considered by the Magistrates during sentencing including the potential for the defendant to lose his employment as a result of a prolonged driving disqualification.
He was handed a 16-month driving disqualification, a £200 fine and ordered to pay costs of £85 with a £34 surcharge.
OK, It’s wrong. He has been punished. Now what about all the others riding in broad daylight on the footway? along the esplanade footway in Ryde, wrong way down George Street, Wrong way up Union Street (surprised they made it in one piece). There’s no justice in cherry picking some lad who`s had a drink late at night when there is virtually no one else around. Either enforce at all hours or not at all.
Or get rid of them. They are classed as a motor vehicle and can only be used on private land. I just don’t understand why the council are allowing them.
Wrong. Private scooters are illegal, hire scheme scooters are totally legal.
It sounds like all in all, he is a quite decent young chap. I bet if he was one of the typical rough foul mouthed scummy types, the authorities would have been way more leniant on him. The do good brigade say those sort can’t help being the way they are and should not be penalised for it, but let someone more decent make a mistake and they come down hard to make an example of them. Disgusting double standards are everywhere now, one law for some and a different set of rules for others who fit certain ‘criteria’.
Maybe something will be done when more people get killed. These things are a menace, and parking them outside pubs was a genius idea IOW council.
The number of escooter deaths (and injuries including those caused to others) on a hire scheme worldwide is minuscule compared to cars, bikes, ebikes, busses, lorries etc. They are pretty safe actually.
Yes, but as a percentage of deaths and serious injuries I’ll bet it’s a totally different story. Only the other day a child died on one and another was seriously injured. These things will become a plague on society, mark my words.
Got passed by one on the pavement the other day down cowes seafront with a big spliff hanging out his mouth he went straight past a parked up coastguard 4×4 with them sat in it they did nothing I know they have no powers but you would think they would follow him and call the police.
Several unanswered questions here: who was operating the CCTV? How did the police know where to find the rider?
As for “innocent mistake” – ha, ha.
Time to enforce penalties for drunk cyclists……
Treat to see two police on foot yesterday pull over a male and presumably his girlfriend riding 2 up along Ryde Esplanade, gave them a good talking to so he ditched the girl and carried on playing on his hired toy leaving her to head home on her own looking quite upset and embarrassed, obviously the age of chivalry is totally dead.
See this 2 up riding a lot. Scooters should really have the technology to disable if there are 4 pressure points. Police must be sick of looking at scooters to spot infringements. Why give them a talking to, just fine them, they’ll soon get the message.
I saw a male and female both riding on one in Adelaide Place in Ryde last night, The female had blonde ponytail, is this description of the ones you saw? it was about 9.45 pm. Beryl should be able to locate who it was, they could have got on one at the top of Partlands Avenue a little earlier. So fed up with seeing the rules constantly broken. If people want to use the things, then at least use them responsibly.
All these complaints about the misuse of Beryl’s.
I hope the people have complained to Beryl.
Mind you, i checked their website, and, there appears to be NO link or way of complaining.
These scooters are awesome.
I used these weekly and I hope we get them island-wide.