Drink-riding laws have been extended to include e-scooter users riding on footpaths and shared paths to ensure their safety and the safety of others.
Announcing the change, City Services said the Road Transport Legislation Amendment Bill No. 2 modernised the ACT’s laws to keep up with the newer forms of transport that were being widely used in the community and addressed the increased risk that riding under the influence presented.
“We want to ensure e-scooter users are using shared and personally-owned devices responsibly,” City Services said.
“These devices are not an alternative way to get home from the pub or for use after a night out,” it said.
“If you need to get your e-scooter or bike home after a few drinks, you can still push them or walk beside them to get home safely.”
City Services said, once implemented, the drink-riding offence would apply to anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs while driving or riding a bicycle, personal mobility device (such as an e-scooter), animal, animal-drawn vehicle or anyone in charge of an animal on a road-related area.
It said road-related areas included footpaths, shared paths, separated paths for cyclists and pedestrians, nature strips and parks.
The Directorate said the new offence would apply a maximum court penalty of 20 penalty units, representing an amount of $3,200.
“The Bill also introduces a new maximum penalty where the offence has been committed on a road, to align with similar offences of driving under the influence by drivers of a motor vehicle and introduces a 12-month imprisonment term for repeat offenders,” City Services said.
