US tank soldiers stationed in Germany drove drunk e-scooters. Now that has consequences.
Enlarge
US soldiers in Germany drunk on e-scooters
© Niyazz/Shutterstock.com
Stars and Stripes, a US news site for the US Army, reports that soldiers from the 1st Armored Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division were transferred to Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany for training purposes in March 2022. The move came in response to the Russian attack on Ukraine.
Drunk driving with e-scooters
Some soldiers used e-scooters for excursions outside of military premises. The soldiers drove the e-scooters, even if they had previously indulged in alcohol. Five soldiers were caught driving electric scooters while drunk. The soldiers now face drunk driving charges.
The army leadership reacted to these incidents with a general alcohol ban for said troops. This was imposed on July 7, 2022. In addition, the soldiers are no longer allowed to spend the night outside the military premises.
Stars and Strips quoted Major Patrick Connelly, the brigade spokesman, as saying: “It is vital to our mission in the European theater of operations that we maintain order and discipline within our formations. These restrictions will ensure that we maintain our operational readiness and good guests stay with our host nation.”
Incidentally, the Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder greeted the soldiers with 4,000 white sausages and a welcome breakfast after their arrival in March. It is not known whether there was wheat beer for breakfast, as is usual in Bavaria.
The regulations apply to e-scooters
The same alcohol limits apply to e-scooter drivers as to car drivers: For novice drivers (i.e. for people who have just obtained their category A (motorcycles) or B (cars) or C (trucks) or D (bus) driving license). have) the 0.0 per thousand limit applies during the two-year probationary period.
For all other drivers (without a probationary period) alcohol in the blood is over at 0.5 per mille, otherwise there is a risk of fines, points in Flensburg and driving bans because the driver has committed an administrative offence. If there is even more alcohol in the blood, the penalties are even harsher and the driver may have to go to the traffic psychological assessment (MPU).
E-scooters, e-bikes & pedelecs: These are penalties for drunkenness
Police warn: More and more drunk e-scooter drivers
Karl Lauterbach had already called for the 0.0 alcohol limit for e-scooter drivers in 2019
The best electric scooters / kick scooters of 2022
Pedelec, S-Pedelec, e-bike, e-scooter, e-scooter: What is what?
Accident statistics: E-scooters get their own category
E-Scooter Accident Statistics: The Reasons for Accidents
Pedelec/E-Bike: more and more dead and injured – the reasons