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9 investigates: Dangers on electric scooters; how laws are enforced

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The number of electric scooters in Charlotte is increasing by the day and the growing use brings more dangers on the streets.

Channel 9 has spotted the scooters traveling in the wrong direction on streets and cutting off pedestrians. There are even reports of them being used on I-277.

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According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg police reports, officers have been called to 23 incidents involving scooters, and some of them have ended with serious injuries.

In those reports, no one was cited for driving while intoxicated. It is illegal to ride scooters under the influence.

Not a single person has been charged.

“Just like a bicycle or any other mode of transportation like that, you can be arrested for driving while impaired,” Sgt. Jesse Wood, of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, said.

Driving scooters while intoxicated has already been a problem in other parts of the country.

In Los Angeles, an intoxicated rider injured a pedestrian.

A group of people Channel 9 met in uptown Charlotte had a relative who was injured while riding drunk in Texas.

“I have a family member who rode one of the scooters and was drinking, who had never rode a scooter or bike before, and she ended up getting brain damage,” Ty Coleman said.

Around Charlotte, there are scooters in front of many of the bars and breweries.

Channel 9 asked police why there haven’t been any citations issued for driving scooters while under the influence.

“It can be a very complicated process,” Wood said.

Wood said officers are getting educated on DUIs on scooters.

Since the electric scooters are so new to Charlotte, the law isn't clear and many people don't know that riding under the influence is illegal.

City Councilman Larken Egleston has a dire prediction about the new scooters.

“Before the end of the year, someone is going to die on one of these,” Egleston said.

Egleston said he’s heard concerns about the scooters from constituents and he's seen where people are riding them.

“There’s a lot of these that get deposited in front of breweries, or there’s a lot of people riding them to breweries,” Egleston said.

Egleston isn't surprised that police have not issued any DUI citations because the council hasn't been clear about the rules.

The city, however, has asked the transportation committee to come up with rules for the scooters.

Egleston said the key is to communicate with the public.

“I think we need to trust the public to some degree that they know and do the right thing, but we also have to be clear about what the right thing is,” Egleston said.

Some riders agree that the dangers of riding the electric scooters need to be taken seriously.

“We (are) all young. We (are) all drinking. Everybody does something stupid,” rider Dmarjai Devine said. “One mistake -- it will ruin your whole life. Kids have to be worried about that when they step on a scooter.”

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