Californians have recently seen the nation's first electric scooter DUI arrests in Los Angeles and Santa Monica. This is proof that electric scooters are no exception to California's vehicle laws and scooting while intoxicated could have serious consequences.

Though you probably will not be at risk of losing your driver's license if charged with an electric scooter DUI, you could face fines, probation and enrollment in a DUI alcohol program. If someone else is injured by the accident, you could face greater penalties.

These are implications that could seriously complicate your life. California law does not state a minimum blood alcohol content (BAC) level for electric scooters to clarify when a user should be considered intoxicated.

Law enforcement officers must have probable cause to stop a scooter rider. Once an officer stops a rider, they must determine whether a user is impaired, likely through a standardized field sobriety test (SFST) or a breath test. An electric scooter user may refuse preliminary alcohol screening (PAS) tests, but if an officer finds probable cause for an arrest, the rider will be required to submit to chemical tests to determine BAC.

If you have been charged with a DUI, you should contact an experienced DUI defense lawyer as soon as possible. If you have been charged with a motor vehicle DUI, under California law, you only have 10 days to appeal your license suspension to the DMV.