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Los Angeles has its 1st electric scooter DUI prosecution

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Bird, a dockless e-scooter company that aims to help people with the last mile of transit, has recently dropped about 100 scooters in downtown Salt Lake City. The city who was initially not notified of the new company is trying to bring them into compliance with ordinances and regulations and create an operating an operating agreement for them to work under.

Los Angeles • A Los Angeles man has been fined $550 and ordered to pay restitution for riding an electric scooter while intoxicated and knocking over a 64-year-old pedestrian on a sidewalk.

The City Attorney's Office said Thursday the prosecution of 28-year-old Nicholas Kauffroath was the first motorized scooter driving under the influence legal case with a charge in Los Angeles.

The office says in a statement that Kauffroath on Aug. 4 had a blood-alcohol level more than three times the limit while operating a Bird scooter.

The pedestrian was knocked down leaving a theater and suffered a knee abrasion while the rider continued on.

Kauffroath pleaded no contest to operating a motorized scooter under the influence and hit-and-run.

He was placed on 36 months of probation and must complete a DUI program.