Three E-scooter riders were charged with driving while intoxicated in Hoboken yesterday after officers caught them traveling against the flow of traffic, police said.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Daniel Filipek, 27, of Cranford, Christos Hantzaras, 27, of Summit, and, Joseph Meier, 28, of Cranford, were all charged with driving while intoxicated (E-scooter), DWI in a school zone, reckless driving, driving on sidewalk, and going the wrong way on a one-way street, according to Police Det. Lt. Edgardo Cruz.
Yesterday at approximately 5:07 p.m., while in the area of 2nd and Hudson Streets, Police Officers Anthony Olivera and Harold Milne observed three men operating electric scooters opposite the flow of traffic.
As they passed the marked patrol car, the officers advised them that they couldn’t ride in the direction opposite the flow of traffic. The individuals ignored the officers warning and continued north on Hudson Street, authorities said.
The officers then circled to 5th and Hudson Streets in an attempt to stop them, which they eventually did near the intersection of 3rd and Hudson Streets. As the officers approached the riders, they noted that they smelled like alcohol, officials said.
They also observed them to be swaying side to side. A field sobriety test was conducted on all three men, they all failed, and were placed under arrest.
The trio was then transported to headquarters where they all provided breath samples and found to be above the legal limit. Once the arrest process was complete, they were each released to a responsible party, police said.
Lime likes to show helmets in their marketing photos but fights like mad to make them mandatory. They know that one simple rule would drastically cut usage and their profits.
If these scooter programs are reinstated Hoboken needs to make sure much needed new rules are put in place and enforced.