nowitsshowtime

Has anyone ever got in trouble for riding while drunk? Hopefully I'm wrong but you can get in trouble for that from what I've heard, and in that case, what are the penalties really?

Just curious if anyone has actually had to deal with this.

time bandit

i believe most states charge you like you were driving an automobile. at least i know in PA you can get busted that badly. idk about other states so much.

Swiftly

hahaha, I see a line of stupid people waiting to get in your thread

adriano 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n7ncJEFuSw

Retem

I have friends who have gotten BUI in Davis luckily I can handle my booze

nowitsshowtime

Seems really ridiculous that they would charge you with that as if you were operating a motor vehicle. Would you lose your drivers license over this?

I'll admit I drink and cycle to avoid possible dui dwi charges. Seems a lot smarter and Im sure less likely to get caught. Besides if I were so smashed I couldn't control myself, all I do is injur or kill myself and not innocent people which is more likely to happen with a car.

Anyone know how Jersey/NYC is about this?

nowitsshowtime

Was this a random stop, were they being idiots and riding down the middle of hte highway, and any idea what their "punishment" was?

Retem

one night in the tank and a 500 dollar fine the cops watched us bar hop I kept saying dude thats the same cop and they waited for use at the edge of town right before we got on the bike path home
my friends were a little wobble on the bike but nothing stupid

it is a college town what do you want

2dois2b

A friend once got fined by a university cop for like $100 or something.

Lots of alcohol related posts in the "MS paint your mishaps" thread.

iansmash

A lot of places charge you like you're a motor vehicle because you're on the roadway.

You want the rights of an automobile, you better follow the rules too


common sense guys

synapsemusic

In Virginia you get (most of the time) drunk in public and not DWI or DUI. This of course depends on where you get stopped and how drunk you are, etc.

Retem

California law states that as a bicyclist on the road or not I am to behave as a motor vehicle which means the same rules apply to me as a motor vehicle.
I am well aware of the lapse in reason, when one rides a bike after having a few. I was simply stating that the people in my group who drank too much and didn't digest enough of the alcohol or stop drinking at the appropriate time quickly learned their limit in a very expensive and embarrassing way.

adriano 

is it wrong that i like to ride my fixed gear

sober?

REMspeedwagon

i enjoy it also after some beers.

jakerock

You can cause all kinds of potentially harmful trouble for other people while riding a bicycle drunk.

elTwitcho

I somewhat agree with that. I still consider the act of driving a car at all to be a far greater evil and potential hazard than the remote chance you somehow manage to hurt someone at low speed while drunk on your bike though. I'll stop riding my bike home drunk occasionally when people stop pushing around 3000 pounds of metal and glass because they're too lazy or entitled to take a bike or public transit.

EDIT: Come to think of it, I haven't rode home drunk in a long time because it's a stupid way to get yourself hurt, but I don't object to someone having the right to put themselves at risk through their own stupidity by riding drunk is what I'm getting at.

skinnyland

Like, for example, sustaining a brain injury without adequate health insurance, thereby becoming a drain on taxpayers for the rest of your natural life.


I'm not sure how much truth there is to this, but I've heard it in several conversations... Apparently in some states, you can lose your driver's license (or get points against it) from riding a bike drunk, which I find ridiculous.

obstacle

Don't drink. Don't go out. Problem solved.

skinnyland

Whatdaya meann>? *hic**

woody2926

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb0G0jM0RNU

prathmann

Not really. There are many differences spelled out in the California Vehicle Code (CVC) between the requirements for operation of motor vehicles and bicycles. In the particular case of alcohol use, this is covered under CVC 21200.5 for cyclists and it calls for a fine that is not to exceed $250. For motor vehicle operators, the relevant sections are 23136 - 23229 with considerably different penalties and regulations.

Cy Trivialities

never got a ticket for it.

the funniest time i was riding drunk had to be when i ended up riding around in a park for 2.5 hours at about 3am, not knowing where the hell i was. Ended up riding to my cousin's house without even realizing it till i was in front of his door. And sobered up right there, and rode home.

adriano 

does anyone know the details for pennsylvania?

PedallingATX

I have heard of people getting DUI (driving under the influence) while cycling drunk in Texas. In texas, we have DUI and DWI. DWI is slightly worse than a DUI, but a DUI is still pretty bad.

I don't think we have CWI or CUI here in Texas. Basically, I think if you get pulled over you plead w/ the cop to just give you a P.I. I have had friends get pulled over while drunk and they didn't get DUI or DWI, they just got P.I. All depends on the cop.

But, I don't subscribe to that "If you want to be treated as a motor vehicle, you have to follow all of the same laws as a motor vehicle" because the reason DWI is such a big deal on a motor vehicle is b/c you can really hurt other people. While you may be able to hurt someone on a bike, it's MUCH MUCH less likely. And killing someone by riding a bike drunk would be near impossible...SO, I don't think that cyclists should ever be given DWI.

CliftonGK1

In Washington the DUI codes only apply to motor vehicles. However, you can be stopped and the officer can impound your bike if (s)he deems you to be "a danger to yourself or others". Additionally you can be cited for public intox. and reckless driving (which applies to all vehicles, motorized or not.)