E-scooter rider and passenger in Helsinki. Photo: Mikko Stig / Lehtikuva
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Nearly 200 e-scooter riders in Finland were fined for driving under the influence in the first month after stricter micromobility laws took effect in June.
Police issued 190 fines, each for 200 euros, to light electric vehicle users who exceeded the 0.5 g/l blood alcohol limit. Most of the penalties targeted e-scooter drivers, according to figures released by the National Police Board.
The new rules apply to users of light electric vehicles, such as e-scooters and some e-bikes, and restrict their use to individuals aged 15 and above.
Chief Inspector Heikki Kallio of the Police Board said officers were initially unsure how widespread drunk riding would be.
“It was a lot, considering it’s only a month,” he told STT.
Police enforcement efforts have increased since the new regulations came into force. Kallio noted that differences in scooter use are evident across regions, with urban areas showing higher rates of offences.
“Incorrect use of electric scooters has been visible regionally, mainly in cities and towns,” he said.
Another rising problem is passengers. Although carrying multiple people on a single scooter has long been banned, police issued 377 fines for this violation in just the first half of 2025. That figure already surpasses last year’s total of 361. In 2023, police handed out 168 such fines.
Kallio believes the trend is more reflective of increased enforcement rather than a dramatic rise in the behaviour itself.
The fine for carrying passengers has increased from 40 to 60 euros.
The rules were introduced in response to repeated injuries and growing concerns about reckless e-scooter use. Kallio said the scale of the problem only became clear after emergency departments began reporting a high number of serious injuries.
“In Helsinki, emergency rooms saw a lot of injured scooter users, and their injuries were surprisingly bad,” he said.
The police observed multiple riders on a single scooter, as well as unsafe use of roadways and pavements.
“Electric scooters are permitted on bike paths, but if there is none, you have to ride on the road,” Kallio noted.
Despite limitations in the current legal framework, Kallio said the law is helping officers respond more effectively. While the legislation doesn’t apply blood alcohol limits to cyclists, it allows officers to intervene in cases of reckless riding.
“Of course, it would have been good for the law to have included cyclists in more of the regulations, but there is no point in worrying about it,” Kallio said. “With the new law, officers also can stop cyclists, even if there is no blood alcohol limit for them.”
The new rules were intended to improve public safety as micromobility devices become more common in cities. Kallio confirmed that the police are satisfied with how the law has helped improve control over the issue.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
