On June 16, 2025 a man was arrested in downtown Kelowna after being stopped while operating an electric scooter while under the influence of alcohol.
During enhanced patrols in the downtown core, an RCMP officer with the Kelowna Municipal Traffic Unit observed a man operating an electric scooter on the sidewalk at the northeast corner of Leon Avenue and Ellis Street. The operator was not wearing a helmet and appeared unsteady. He then entered a nearby parking lot, skidding the rear tire of the scooter, prompting the officer to initiate a traffic stop.
Upon identifying the individual, police discovered he had three outstanding endorsed warrants. A search incidental to his arrest revealed a bottle of hard liquor concealed in the waistband of his sweatpants.
The officer administered a roadside alcohol screening test, which the operator failed, confirming the blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) was over the legal limit of 0.08.
The man was issued a 90-day roadside driving prohibition and transported to the Kelowna RCMP detachment for fingerprinting and photographs related to his outstanding warrants. He was later released on a new undertaking to appear in court. The scooter was impounded for 30-days.
“This incident highlights the importance of proactive patrols in keeping our streets safe,” said Sgt. Ushock of the Kelowna RCMP Municipal Traffic Unit. “As an operator, you are subject to the same rules and regulations for operating any type of conveyance while impaired, whether it’s a car, boat or a scooter.”
The Kelowna RCMP remain committed to ensuring public safety with the continuation of proactive patrols to improve road and public safety and address impaired operation of all vehicles, including electric scooters.
For more information about road safety visit Road safety | Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
