Man accused of drinking and mowing

[TexasStooge]

WEST BEND, Wis. (Court TV) — A man faces a year in jail for mowing under the influence.

The mower mess began when Barry S. Davis, 44, was pulled over by Hartford police in August as he weaving down a street on his riding lawn mower. He was reportedly riding to a friend's house to get another beer.

A breathalyzer test revealed that Davis had a blood-alcohol content of 0.18, nearly twice the legal limit, according to police. He was arrested and charged with drunken driving, his third such offense.

Davis fought the charge, arguing in court that the riding mower was not a motor vehicle as defined by state law.

Police and prosecutors disagreed, as did Washington County Circuit Judge Andrew Gonring, who ruled last month that a self-propelled vehicle that can carry people or property on a highway, albeit slowly, fits the description, even if that is not the machine's primary purpose.

Hartford police officer James Zywicki spotted David driving "from side to side" on a street on Aug. 19, according to a police report. Davis almost drove into a ditch to avoid being hit by another vehicle, the report states.

Davis pleaded not guilty last week and demanded a jury trial, which is set for Feb. 3. If convicted, he could face up to a year in prison.

[JCT777]

That is the first time I heard of someone being arrested for "drinking and mowing". But it makes sense, since he could have hurt someone or caused damage to someone's property.

[GalvestonDuck]

LOL! I've heard about it a few times before.

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/Crime ... 10821.html

Mayor Arrested for Driving Tractor While Intoxicated


STANTON, Ky. — The mayor of Stanton, Ky., was caught M.U.I — mowing under the influence — state police say.

Myers Arnett was arrested Monday night and taken to Powell County jail for operating a tractor while intoxicated. State police were summoned to the scene by a police dispatcher reporting a drunken driver off Ky. 15 around 8 p.m.

Trooper Chris Short arrived to find Arnett on his farm tractor, and charged him with operating a non-motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating beverages, criminal mischief, and resisting arrest said Short. He was apparently going to mow grass, police said.

State police declined to offer further details on the case.

Arnett, 51, was elected mayor of the small town in central Kentucky in 1998.

He could face a fine and possibly prison time for the incident.

[TexasStooge]

LOL!!! That's funny GalvestonDuck!

[David]

I love it!!

[ColdFront77]

It isn't something to laugh about.

[roarusdogus]

I don't have the story handy but awhile back there was a story of a guy arrested for operating a motor vehicle under the influence. The only problem is he never left his yard! He apparently just went in his car and revved it up a few times and then was arrested as the police were called because he was being a disturbance. I am all for very tough drunk driving laws. They are a very good thing. Really helps to save lives, however, I think it gets ridiculous when you cant even turn the engine on in your car in your own yard without being arrested. If the car doesn't move then it's ridiculous, it isn't hurting or threatning anybody. Most states have lowered the legal limit low enough so that one drink could put you over the limit, which is great to keep people off the road. However, if you use this story as an example, this means you can't even drink a beer while "working" on your car because you might have to start up the engine.