Getting a DUI typically happens because the driver was caught operating a vehicle while under the influence. However, with Florida’s reputation for often making headlines for some unusual or amusing reasons, there are examples of people being arrested for DUI despite not having driven something like a car, truck, or motorcycle.
Two examples happened back in November of 2017. A woman was arrested for DUI when she was stopped after drivers caught her riding her horse on a highway. When law enforcement administered a breathalyzer, she was well over the legal limit. In another example, a man was charged with a DUI after erratically driving a lawnmower on the road with a case of beer in tow. He too was well over the legal limit when he was stopped.
Sure enough, taking a closer look at Florida statute 316.193 reveals that although a person must be driving or physically controlling a vehicle, there is no clear definition stating the vehicle is limited solely to a traditional automobile or a type of motor vehicle. It is indeed quite possible to get a DUI while riding a horse, a lawnmower, a golf cart, or even a motorized wheelchair.
To read more and see other examples, please visit https://blogs.lawyers.com/attorney/dui-dwi/can-you-get-a-dui-in-florida-if-youre-not-driving-a-car-53980/.
This update is brought to you by the Miami traffic attorney team of Hochman & Goldin, P.A. We can assist you with criminal traffic violations and we are ready to answer your questions. Please call 305-665-1000 to speak with someone at the Miami ticket law firm today.
This information is provided for educational or informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to substitute for legal advice.