In Florida, a vehicle isn’t just defined as a car or truck. That means that DUI laws apply to more modes of transportation than you might realize. Here are just a few of the ways you might be getting around Florida that fall under Florida’s DUI laws. Be careful when you’re out socializing. If you’re on any one of these vehicles, you could be issued a DUI with the same ramifications and legal implications as the DUI charge you get in a car or truck.
Bicycles
That’s right. In the state of Florida, if you’re riding a bicycle while under the influence you could find yourself at the wrong end of a DUI citation. You might think that issuing DUIs to cyclists is a little heavy handed, but it makes sense when you think about the implications to drivers around you. If someone is riding a bicycle while intoxicated and they veer into the middle of the street or fall off their bike unexpectedly, it could cause a crash that result in serious injury or death.
Motorhomes
The legal definition of a motorhome is a self-propelled motor vehicle that is used as temporary living quarters for camping and traveling. Because motorhomes are so large, the size makes them more dangerous as they can cause more damage if they went off the road or if the person behind the wheel is driving erratically.
Truck Tractors
The legal definition of a truck tractor is any motor vehicle with at least four wheels designed and equipped with a fifth wheel for pulling a semi-trailer behind it. Again, the size and unusual proportions that these vehicles often have make them more dangerous than some vehicles, meaning you’re subject to the same DUI laws that you would be if you were driving a sedan or any other vehicle.
Golf Carts
The legal definition of a golf cart is any motor vehicle designed and manufactured for golf courses incapable of traveling over 20 miles per hour. This is another vehicle that you might think poses so little threat that giving someone a DUI in a golf cart might seem silly. But, again, it’s still a vehicle, and in the case of golf carts there is far less protection around the occupants, making any tip-over or crash potentially more dangerous. Consider also that on a golf course there are many people walking, so if someone were to go off-course and crash into people, extensive damage could result.
Motorized Disability Vehicles
ANy vehicle designed for handicapped drivers, such as wheelchairs with a motor, which is incapable of propelling itself beyond 30 miles per hour is considered a motorized disability vehicle. This typically refers to motorized wheelchairs and scooter-like devices. While these vehicles are small, they can do a great deal of damage if they hit pedestrians. Since most motorized scooters and wheelchairs are used in pedestrian areas, it makes sense to subject these vehicles to the same DUI laws as any other vehicle.
Whether or not you agree that these are all vehicles or that they should be subject to the same DUI laws as cars and trucks, the fact remains that if you drink while operating any of them in the state of Florida, you could find yourself with a DUI. It’s simply not worth it to operate these vehicles while intoxicated.
