E-scooter/Vernon Matters Staff

By Vernon Matters Staff

Wobbly ride

Kelowna man allegedly caught drunk on e-scooter with liquor, outstanding warrants

Jun 19, 2025 | 10:17 AM

A man was arrested in downtown Kelowna after allegedly operating an electric scooter while impaired and carrying liquor.

RCMP said the incident took place on the morning of June 16 during an enhanced traffic enforcement patrol in the city’s downtown core.

An officer with the Kelowna Municipal Traffic Unit saw a man riding an electric scooter on the sidewalk at the corner of Leon Avenue and Ellis Street. The man was not wearing a helmet and appeared unsteady before allegedly skidding into a nearby parking lot, prompting a traffic stop.

Police said the man had three outstanding endorsed warrants. When they searched him as part of the arrest they found a bottle of hard liquor concealed in the waistband of his sweatpants.

He was given a roadside screening test and allegedly blew over the legal blood-alcohol limit of 0.08. The man was issued a 90-day roadside driving prohibition and was taken to the Kelowna RCMP detachment for fingerprinting and photographs in connection to the warrants.

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The scooter was impounded for 30 days. The man was later released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

“This incident highlights the importance of proactive patrols in keeping our streets safe,” said Sgt. Colby Ushock of the Kelowna RCMP Municipal Traffic Unit in a statement.

“As an operator, you are subject to the same rules and regulations for operating any type of conveyance while impaired, whether it is a car, boat or a scooter.”

RCMP said they will continue stepped-up patrols throughout the summer, with a focus on detecting impaired driving across all vehicle types, including electric scooters.