Don't drive your tractor while drunk...OR your mower

[JDgreen227]

Today's local news has a story about an Oakland County man (near Detroit, Michigan) who was sentenced to 45 days in jail after his arrest that was recorded on police video. The 47 year old man pleaded guilty to his third offense of operating while intoxicated, and although the man was a Navy veteran who served in Afghanistan he was also given two years probation. According to the story the accused rode his lawn mower to a Rite Aid store after drinking, and police spotted the machine parked on the sidewalk outside the store.

 

[TomSeller]

Today's local news has a story about an Oakland County man (near Detroit, Michigan) who was sentenced to 45 days in jail after his arrest that was recorded on police video. The 47 year old man pleaded guilty to his third offense of operating while intoxicated, and although the man was a Navy veteran who served in Afghanistan he was also given two years probation. According to the story the accused rode his lawn mower to a Rite Aid store after drinking, and police spotted the machine parked on the sidewalk outside the store.

At least he probably wasn't speeding.

 

[Ed of all trades]

I know a guy who lost his right to drive a moped after getting busted for the 6th time drunk driving on his moped.

 

[BigMike50]

yeah on the road. you can get a dui for riding a bike on the road. you can drink as much as you want on your own property. I prefer to mow at night while throwing baqck a few drinks.

 

[TomSeller]

He should have taken the push mower that day.

 

[SPIKER]

yeah on the road. you can get a dui for riding a bike on the road. you can drink as much as you want on your own property. I prefer to mow at night while throwing baqck a few drinks.

Actually if you are withing public sight you can be charged with drunken in public, (public intoxication) There are also a good number of people charged with riding bikes and or mowers dui etc. Cops are generally seem out for the revenue more than protecting the public anymore...

Mark

 

[stuckmotor]

The mower part sounds like a George Jones story.
Stuck

 

[BigMike50]

Actually if you are withing public sight you can be charged with drunken in public, (public intoxication) There are also a good number of people charged with riding bikes and or mowers dui etc. Cops are generally seem out for the revenue more than protecting the public anymore...

Mark

how could a cop get probable cause to enter a private property where someone is mowing their grass on a riding mower? its not possible, I have seen some messed up mowing procedures and mowing maneuvers before but that does not give probable cause to enter ones property. Especially if it is on a non public road and a "non registered" lawnmower. I could see if you lived in a ghetto with connected houses and your throwing beer bottles on your neighbors yard while your mowing. other than that, cops cant come onto my 10 acre property and tell me I cant mow while I drink. There is nothing illegal about mowing on your property and drinking.

 

[dusty3030]

how could a cop get probable cause to enter a private property where someone is mowing their grass on a riding mower? its not possible, I have seen some messed up mowing procedures and mowing maneuvers before but that does not give probable cause to enter ones property. Especially if it is on a non public road and a "non registered" lawnmower. I could see if you lived in a ghetto with connected houses and your throwing beer bottles on your neighbors yard while your mowing. other than that, cops cant come onto my 10 acre property and tell me I cant mow while I drink. There is nothing illegal about mowing on your property and drinking.

**** yeah! Preach it brother.

 

[rmorey]

Still, probably not the best plan to cut the lawn with a riding mower after tossing back a "dozen pops".

 

[jerrybob]

Drinking is fine while mowing.....just don't text....it's dangerous!

 

[newbury]

And there's a move afoot to lower the legal limit to 0.05, that could be less than 3 beers.

Make DUI limit 0.05% blood-alcohol level, NTSB says

 

[TomSeller]

Cops are generally seem out for the revenue more than protecting the public anymore...
Mark

That is the truth.

 

[RoyJackson]

Still, probably not the best plan to cut the lawn with a riding mower after tossing back a "dozen pops".

Agree 100%!!
Our equipment is inherently dangerous....being impaired while operating can (and has) lead to tragic results.

 

[TripleR]

You really need to be aware of your state statutes and city ordinances.

 

[dave1949]

Rite Aid usually has good prices on beer. Maybe that's why he was going to Rite Aid.

My brother used to say he hadn't drank professionally since leaving the Army. :laughing:

 

[jinman]

And there's a move afoot to lower the legal limit to 0.05, that could be less than 3 beers.

Make DUI limit 0.05% blood-alcohol level, NTSB says

I'm always amazed at the knee-jerk reactions we have in passing laws. The lead-in to that story on the local news showed several instances of people driving the wrong way on the freeway and causing huge accidents. At no time did they say what the wrong-way drivers intoxication level was. I'd bet good money it was way above the 0.08% limit. In my opinion, changing the law will not get the worst offenders off the road. It will only serve to harass the casual drinkers who may be one beer or one cocktail over the limit. The only way they can justify a law like this is to publish statistics showing actual data related to the blood-alcohol level of drivers causing accidents. Certainly, if a person is driving dangerously, they are impaired and need to be removed from the street, but why waste the taxpayer's money passing a law that can't be enforced and won't reduce fatal accidents by the offenders who will pay no attention to any law? In most instances, these offenders have multiple DUI's and may be driving without a license. How about passing a law that says the judge who let the drunk out of jail should have to go to jail if the drunk causes another accident?

Okay, rant mode off.

 

[joshuabardwell]

although the man was a Navy veteran who served in Afghanistan

What has that got to do with anything?

 

[jerrybob]

What has that got to do with anything?

Wonder how much he weighed and the what color his hair was??:confused2:

 

[dave1949]

It seems like too many veterans are alcoholics, drug abusers, homeless, etc. I don't know if there are statistics to verify that impression, or that if it's true, that there is any actual relationship to their veteran status. Certainly, the experiences of some have to be psychologically damaging.

News stories about the homeless street people around Portland, Maine note that many are veterans.