A video showing two men using e-scooters to transport a couch has gone viral, but how the Vancouver Police Department responded has drawn some criticism. The video was posted on Instagram by the Lime Scoot Boyz, described as a “rag-tag group of individuals who like to Lime scoot,” by founder Everest Hughes. The video shows Hughes and a friend using the scooters to move a couch on a side street in Mount Pleasant a few weeks ago. At one point, a Vancouver Police Department cruiser drives by. The officer looks at the two men and says, “That’s awesome, how’d you guys do that?” To which Hughes responds, “Just two Lime scooters and a Facebook Marketplace couch.” The officer then said, “Hell yeah,” and drove away without issuing the two men – who weren’t wearing helmets – a ticket. Hughes said he was pleasantly surprised by the officer’s reaction. “It was one of the best moments of my Lime scooting career,” he said. ‘Foolish’ While it was a career-defining moment for Hughes, the lack of response from the VPD is garnering pushback. Dave Cassels, a former police chief with the Winnipeg Police Service, called the interaction “foolish” and “dangerous.” “I believe that he [the officer] should have taken at least some action,” he said. “Give them either a warning or talk to them about the dangers to themselves and perhaps the dangers to others.” VPD response VPD Chief Cst. Steve Rai said officers used their discretion. “Discretion is meant there to be able to have the police officer help someone without being black and white about it, without being punitive on the street,” he said. “In this case, I think that’s what happened.” When asked whether officers would have reacted the same way if this had happened in other parts of the city, such as the Downtown Eastside, Rai said, it was a fair comment. “I can honestly tell you, you know, we try to train bias out,” he said. Violation tickets Under the Motor Vehicle Act, the fines associated with failing to wear a helmet are $29, while riding without due care and attention is $109. In a statement to CTV News, the Ministry of Transportation and Transit said riding an electric-kick scooter without a helmet or in dangerous and unsafe ways is illegal and can result in violation tickets and fines. Asked how he felt about not getting fined, Hughes said they were just having some fun. The 28-year-old isn’t a novice to these kinds of stunts, and can often be seen on social media engaging in extreme sports. “To those people who say we should get fined and stuff, maybe go try a Lime couch and live a little,” he said. He does acknowledge he wasn’t wearing a helmet, and urges others who may watch his viral videos to take precautions. “If you’re not competent on these scooters, please wear a helmet,” he said. “Just make sure that you are being safe.”
