Mountain Biking - Man gets DUI on bike....

Heck, it helps me get over the knarly crashes to be a little dazed & confused....

Here's the link:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040610/ap_on_fe_st/bicycle_dui_1

Please post your thoughts on "Drinking & Riding". I don't think on the road with cars is too bright though...

Brave maybe, but not bright. :o

Hope he gets punished. Weaing in traffic at 3x the legal limit is dangerous for other cars, not just the cyclist himself.

Hope he gets punished. Weaing in traffic at 3x the legal limit is dangerous for other cars, not just the cyclist himself.

I hear about DUI cyclists quite frequently, and I think the punishment should fit the situation. The purpose of DUI laws is to protect the safety of everyone. I think that if a drunk cyclist is creating a danger to others, than it would be reasonable to be punished. But realistically, I think it's pretty rare that an intoxicated cyclist would present more danger to the public than anyone else. IMHO, police officers should, and do, use reasonable judgement in these cases, and for good reason. To honestly believe that an intoxicated cyclist is as dangerous as an intoxicated motorist is beyond my comprehension. "Same roads, same rules, same rights", but let's use our heads a little.

Yes. Let's do use our heads. Just cause some idiot who's drunk on a bike isnt creating a problem at that moment, doesnt mean he's not going to round the next corner and take out an old lady, or get in the wrong lane and cause a mom with her 17 kids in an escalade to swerve off a bridge and die. I mean, the laws are in place...people should follow them or pay the penalties.

Well, could you imagine if you were out, or coming home from a night out with some friends, and you come around a corner and plow into some idiot whoose 3x's the legal limit and riding his bike in the middle of the road with no lights?

Let's say he dies from his injuries.


























How would that make you feel?

L8R

Well, could you imagine if you were out, or coming home from a night out with some friends, and you come around a corner and plow into some idiot whoose 3x's the legal limit and riding his bike in the middle of the road with no lights?

Let's say he dies from his injuries.





How would that make you feel?

L8R


Happy that I killed the dumbarss

There's to many people in this world already... at least then we'd be getting rid of one other idiot that's not needed.

http://www.fh-trier.de/~gielj/smilies/irvine.gif

Happy that I killed the dumbarss
http://www.fh-trier.de/~gielj/smilies/irvine.gif


Granted, but I think I'd feel pretty bad for a long time.


Now, what if you'd had a drink or two and your BAC was .076. Chances are you'd get charged for manslaughter. You'd have to defend yourself, you'd probably loose a lot of money, you'd always carry the stigma of being a drunk driver, AND you'd have killed someone.

I glad the idiot got arrested.

L8R

Granted, but I think I'd feel pretty bad for a long time.


Now, what if you'd had a drink or two and your BAC was .076. Chances are you'd get charged for manslaughter. You'd have to defend yourself, you'd probably loose a lot of money, you'd always carry the stigma of being a drunk driver, AND you'd have killed someone.

I glad the idiot got arrested.

L8R

Ah man you had to ruin my fun, I was hoping somone was gonna read it and get all pissy.. HAHA

Bored now that I aint doin crap for the next two weeks... so figured I'd try to have a little fun in here.. HAHA :D

You want me to delete my reply????

L8R

You want me to delete my reply????

L8R

HAHA....

I'm betting it wont matter.

So when you gonna hit the PNW bro? mael and I are gonna be waiting for you. :D

We could all get drunk and ride around on your bikes ;)

Used up all my vacation time dealing with my divorce! Maybe next year!!!!!

How about we get drunk, all trade bikes and go riding downtown, NEKKID!

I'm sure we'd be a hit with the ladies!!!

L8R

Used up all my vacation time dealing with my divorce! Maybe next year!!!!!

How about we get drunk, all trade bikes and go riding downtown, NEKKID!

I'm sure we'd be a hit with the ladies!!!

L8R

DIVORCE? WHAT?

PM me bro.. I didn't know any of this happend, I've been MIA around here lately so I've missed a ton!

In canada DUI removes points from your liscence. You are a danger. Period. Just because it is less likely doesn't make it right. Swerve, make car swerve, car hits crowd. Sorry just to many chances.

Ticketing drunks on bicycles is fairly common here. One of my freinds tickets them all the time.

Often the charge is a simple public drunk and disorderly ticket. I don't know if it is because most these guys ride on the sidewalks. I guess I could ask.

The guys that loose their licenses due to DUI often wind up using bicycles as transportation. Not sure whether to classify them as cyclists.

Heck, up in Bowling Green, KY, which is about 60 miles east of Hopkinsville, the charged a handicapped man in an electric wheelchair for DUI and it held up in the courts all the way to the state supreme court!

Not sure whether to classify them as cyclists.

um do they wear spandex? HAHAHA


Where in IL are you ?

I'm southwest of chicago in Lemont.. (but in two weeks I wont be :D )

Springfield

Well, could you imagine if you were out, or coming home from a night out with some friends, and you come around a corner and plow into some idiot whoose 3x's the legal limit and riding his bike in the middle of the road with no lights?
Let's say he dies from his injuries.


In canada DUI removes points from your liscence. You are a danger. Period. Just because it is less likely doesn't make it right. Swerve, make car swerve, car hits crowd. Sorry just to many chances.

By this logic, we should be giving DUIs and license points to EVERYBODY who is drunk, because theoretically, they are all more likely to be involved in an accident, whether in an automobile, on foot, or on bike. Certainly, they DO present a danger to themselves, and in our society, that's a crime, so a "drunk in public" charge would be much more realistic for a drunk pedestrian, or, a drunk cyclist. The more serious charge of DUI, should be reserved for those piloting a deadly weapon (i.e. automobile) under the influence. Is a bike a deadly weapon? I'd like to see such an example.

I heard that in Illinois you can't get a DUI on a bicycle, it has to be a motor vehicle.

Someone there successfully fought a DUI conviction because a bicycle there is not legally considered a vehicle. I think the case went all the way to the Illinois Supreme Court. In Ohio where I live you can get busted for DUI on a bicycle and they can take away your driver's license.

Is a bike a deadly weapon? I'd like to see such an example.
Should a man who runs a stop light on a bike get a ticket? Yes. There are rules for the roads and those who operate vehicles on them. The example of the cyclist swerving in front of a car on a road, and causing that individual to crash is perfectly logical.

Is a bike a deadly weapon? I'd like to see such an example.

Here ya go....

Should a man who runs a stop light on a bike get a ticket? Yes. There are rules for the roads and those who operate vehicles on them.

ehh, just get them for jaywalking instead =]

ok....drinking and driving is insanely stupid...no matter what anyone says. Now drinking in biking on the ROAD is a deathwish.

2 Psyclenut...I was married for the second time in Sarasota...Stayed that night at the Hyatt Downtown.. My best man did not know we were there...Rendevois in the lounge..The pianist did a rendition for us...Anyway, my 'best man' got pretty smashed.. Talked to Steve the next day...
He went skinny dipping off of Lido Beach.. Got to watch your behavior under the influence... Told him my observations watching croakers nibble at stuff that protrudes. Fingers, whatever. Very aggressive fish.. Gotta watch that behavior when not yourself..Plus shark feed at night.
Guess swimming nekkid is safer than riding nekkid..

As far as I know, there is no epidemic of drunken cyclists on nationwide killing sprees. All I have seen presented by the Johnny Laws here are a few hypothetical situtations. Show me some hard statistics about things that really pose a danger to society, then let's deal with them accordingly. I guarantee you drunk bicycling isn't even on the radar. Our law enforcement resources are limited, and I would rather have them focus on more significant and realistic threats.

Brennan...As activist cyclist, some of us at least, we need present a favorable face to the non-cycling world.. A drunk cyclist acting like motorists does not help our cause...Yes, not a national malaise, but as advocates, we are interested.
Do agree drinking and cycling don't mix..Bad for one's health, even if getting rid of a few peskie brain cells is a good thining exercise once a year.
As to biking and drinking..Bike tours in Napa, Calif. are big..I understand a fair amount of cyclist do get napped each year.
Was there not some mention of a drunk cyclist who could not unclick his/her SPD's.. Not a comfortable spot to sleep it off.
In a drunk, I could see me hugging onto my touring bike. The object of my affection towards my bike would not be anywhere below the waistline. camping and a bottle of wine are quite compatable. Think it would take more than one bottle to get me to hug my bike, tho..That is if nothing else were available.

I heard that in Illinois you can't get a DUI on a bicycle, it has to be a motor vehicle.

Someone there successfully fought a DUI conviction because a bicycle there is not legally considered a vehicle. I think the case went all the way to the Illinois Supreme Court. In Ohio where I live you can get busted for DUI on a bicycle and they can take away your driver's license.

It is the same in Virginia. The DUI laws, unlike almost all other traffic violations, are only applicable for an operator of a motor vehicle. Moped yes, bicycle no! A cyclist who was caught drunk would likely be arrested for Drunk In Public. Most other traffic laws in VA, like running a stop sign or speeding, are written for all vehicles, including bikes.

Some might argue that Bicyclists should not be charged with DUI because a bike is not a car...Think about loosing that argument.!
It means we are not equal to the auto as a means of transportation...Therefore, we might be denied access to the road.Don't think we want that..

That's pretty lame. If you want to ride a bike into traffic while drinking and driving, that's your perogative. So long as you don't hurt anybody else. I personally do not swerve for small animals or people on bicycles UNLESS I know I can avoid the person safely. Otherwise, you're fawkin road pizza. That's just good sense.

http://www.jeepcrew.com/uploads/Hookie241.jpg

Some might argue that Bicyclists should not be charged with DUI because a bike is not a car...Think about loosing that argument.! It means we are not equal to the auto as a means of transportation...Therefore, we might be denied access to the road.Don't think we want that..
Why stop there? If we want to be equal to cars, let's require bicyclists to pay annual registration fees and mandatory insurance. Require all bicyclists to carry a rider's license which can only be obtained after passing a written and riding test. We can have even more reasons to stand in line at the DMV! Hey, how about bicycle parking tickets? And no more bicycling for kids. Sorry, but you must be 16 or older to operate a bicycle. How far should this equality go?

The law does not use the phrase that a bike is equal to a car...It just states bikes have equal access to roads.. Bikes obviously do not weigh 3000 lbs...We can't use any lane we choose...
To equate a bike beyond the fact, it is transportation to many and can have access to its portion of the road is all the law is saying for us to go further is silly...
If you own a bike, it is in your interest that bikes be considered legitimate transportation and those forces that want to margalinze you to a few existing bike trails not win out. Should that be the case, we just might as well ban the manufacture of bicycles.
Some cities do require that bikes be registered.