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Have you ever been afraid to get your first time DUI offense, so you rode your bike home from the bar? That may not be the best way to avoid a DUI. The legislature for driving intoxicated isn’t only limited to cars, but extends to a variety of vehicles. Although the law varies from state-to-state, you can get your first time DUI offense (or second, or third, or more) for riding any motorized vehicle. And some vehicles don’t even need to have motors for them to put you at risk of a DUI. Find out which vehicles can get you in trouble so you don’t need a DUI defense lawyer.
Motorized Vehicles
The law is rather stringent when it comes to drinking and driving motorized vehicles. On land, you can be arrested for drunk driving in a car, motorcycle, moped, golf cart, ride-on mower, snowmobile, or farm equipment. Even a motorized wheelchair can get you your first time DUI offense.
Wheelchair DUI
Raymound Kulma saw that first-hand. After stealing and driving a motorized wheelchair, Raymound Kulma received his seventh DUI. Breathalyzer refusal wasn’t an issue, and his blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit. Officers arrested him for the infraction. In a similar situation, Floridian Ronny Scott Hicks was arrested under suspicion of drunk driving. Police officers found him on a motorized wheelchair. He was slurring his speech and smelled of alcohol. Police noted his breathalyzer refusal. They arrested Hicks and charged him with felony DUI.
Other Strange DUIs
Don’t drive your construction equipment while you’re drunk. In Minnesota, police witnessed a front-end loader driving down the street. When they pulled the vehicle over, they found a drunk driver. The driver claimed that he was trying to clear the snow, although there was no snow to be found.
Another unexpected motorized vehicle for a DUI is a Zamboni. Yes, a Zamboni. A part-time Zamboni driver, Joel Keith Bruss had a few too many and tried to smooth the ice during a kids hockey game. He bumped the Zamboni into the walls of the rink and stayed on the ice much longer than needed. A coach called authorities, and Bruss was arrested.
Think that’s strange? There are other odd instances of DUIs. In Minnesota, a man converted his lawn mower into a motorized recliner. After drinking many beers, he drove it on the street and crashed into a parked car. His Blood Alcohol Level was three times the legal limit. Police charged him with a DWI and a judge placed him on probation.
Boating DUIs
You’re not even safe from a DUI on the water. All states have laws against boating under the influence. Erin Brockovich (not Julia Roberts, but the real-life Brockovich that the movie was based on) tried driving her boat while intoxicated, but police busted her. She blew more than twice the legal limit and police charged her with BUI.
In Alaska, police arrested a man on an inflatable raft. He blew a whopping .313 (almost four times the limit) and police charged him with DUI. Bail was set at $2,500.
Non-Motorized Vehicles
Although many first time DUI offenses come from motorized vehicles, they can also come from non-motorized ones too. The law varies from state to state, but while intoxicated, some states have laws in place that make it illegal to ride certain non-motorized vehicles. The most common non-motorized vehicle in this category is a bicycle.
In Florida, Tommy Miller was riding his bike down a main road. Police officers stopped him and noticed that his eyes were bloodshot. Miller also had empty beer cans in his basket. After a breathalyzer refusal, Miller was arrested and charged with DUI.
In some states, it’s illegal to ride a horse while intoxicated. A man in Kentucky was trail-riding with some friends. When he stopped for a snack, a deputy approached him. He admitted to drinking a few beers and his blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit. The officer charged him with a DUI and explained, “He could have swerved into a car, causing danger to himself and others.”
Kentucky’s DUI laws extend to any non-motorized vehicle. Other states have similar trends. In Oregon, police charged a man with driving under the influence on a skateboard. Jacob Becker was riding his skateboard down the street when he hit a moving van. In addition to suffering some minor injuries, he was charged with DUI and underage drinking.
Dealing With Your First Time DUI Offense
Your first time DUI offense can be a scary experience. But an experienced DUI defense lawyer can help you handle the situation. Being charged with a DUI doesn’t mean it’s too late to fight the charge. With a lawyer’s expertise, you may be able to have reduced charges. In some cases, you may get an expungement.
