An electric scooter rider said he was not aware he was committing a crime drink-driving while he was banned for drink driving in a car. Kamil Brzozowski, 36, of Norwich Garden, Bulwell, was a disqualified driver at the time which meant riding the scooter was illegal.
Brzozowski told magistrates in Nottingham how he jumped on his £360 scooter to pick up some food ingredients for "my Mrs" in the middle of the night. In the darkness he did not see a little pothole in the pavement, which he hit and toppled over the steering bars.
Brzozowski cracked his skull on the pavement and fractured his cheekbone. He was found unconscious just before midnight in Alfreton Road, Nottingham, on June 20, last year. An ambulance was called to Brzozowski.
Read more: Big changes to Nottingham's e-scooters to address concerns and boost safety
After he was identified from his bank card, police learned he was a banned driver following a drink-driving conviction from May 2021 when he was involved in a road traffic collision. A blood sample showed he had 142 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, over the limit of 80, explained Lucy Woodcock, prosecuting.
Brzozowski represented himself in court after previously pleading guilty to drink-driving on a private electric scooter, disqualified driving, using the scooter without insurance. He said in court on March 24: "I remember coming back from the shop in the middle of the night and waking up the next day in hospital. I don't remember anything else. I was in the Queen's Medical Centre.
"I just left the hospital. I was still in shock. I didn't feel any pain. My Mrs was waiting for me. I started to feel pain on my face and head the next day and I realised, 'what have I done,' and I should have stayed in hospital. I am really, really sorry for my offence.
"I was not aware I was committing any offence. I know the law is the law and I am ready to take full responsibility for my offence".
The father-of-two said he did not know his driving ban included electric scooters, "I swear to God". "You can see everyone driving them in the city centre. Even my seven-year-old daughter rides it to school and back home".
He bought the scooter to save money on bus fares as he used to spend £100-a-month. Magistrate Thomas Quarton-Manuel fined him £541, ordered he pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £54. He was banned from the roads for three years. This can be reduced if he completes a course.
Mr Quarton-Manuel told textile worker Brzozowski: "It is well documented and publicised there is a wide-spread ignorance to this particular law and it applies to e-scooters."
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