Don't drive your tractor while drunk...OR your mower

[JDgreen227]

Never touch a machine more complicated than a refrigerator door handle when drinking.

WHEW....and here I was so worried about opening the door on my fridge to get another beer after the first one was empty...and according to you, such a door is uncomplicated....THANK YOU !!!!

 

[sweettractors]

And if you live in Indiana, don't even think about driving your car, truck, motorcycle, lawn mower, atv or wheelchair down to the local convenience store to buy a cold beer. I just heard on the news that it is against the law in that state. Ken Sweet

 

[dmccarty]

ｧ 20‑4.01. Definitions.
(49) Vehicle. Every device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, excepting devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon fixed rails or tracks; provided, that for the purposes of this Chapter bicycles shall be deemed vehicles and every rider of a bicycle upon a highway shall be subject to the provisions of this Chapter applicable to the driver of a vehicle except those which by their nature can have no application. This term shall not include a device which is designed for and intended to be used as a means of transportation for a person with a mobility impairment, or who uses the device for mobility enhancement, is suitable for use both inside and outside a building, including on sidewalks, and is limited by design to 15 miles per hour when the device is being operated by a person with a mobility impairment, or who uses the device for mobility enhancement. This term shall not include an electric personal assistive mobility device as defined in G.S. 20‑4.01(7a).
(7a) Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Device. A self‑balancing nontandem two‑wheeled device, designed to transport one person, with a propulsion system that limits the maximum speed of the device to 15 miles per hour or less.

From what you posted, which I see in the current law, a powered wheel chair is not a vehicle so one could NOT get be arrested for impaired operation. I don't have the reference I was reading this weekend but I might not have read down far enough in the text. Though I did see the Segway exception. :confused3: The Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Device in 7a sounds like a Segway to me. I don't know of anything else that would come close to that definition.

There is a lawsuit against Disney about allowing Segway's into the parks. Companies cannot ask people about their disabilities so Disney cannot verify if a person is really disabled. Disney does NOT want Segway's in the parks apparently because of safety concerns so Disney has banned them and caused the lawsuit. The guess is that Disney thinks the Segways are too dangerous to be zooming around the parks, a correct assumption as far as I am concerned, and if they allow in the Segways, too many people will start bringing them to the parks, irregardless of need. Disney used to have a Segway tour at EPCOT that happened before the park opened. You had to attend a class on how to use the Segways as part of the tour. The EPCOT tour has been canceled though there is a similar tour at the Disney campground the guess is that Disney canceled the tour because of the lawsuit.

It is interesting that Segway has a specific mention in the statute. I guess their lobbiests are earning their money. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Later,
Dan

 

[rmorey]

Never touch a machine more complicated than a refrigerator door handle when drinking.

LOL wrds to live by. :laughing:

 

[dmccarty]

Never touch a machine more complicated than a refrigerator door handle when drinking.

Can I use the TV remote when drinking? Or is that too complicated? :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Later,
Dan

 

[Ted Summey]

Just had a conversation with a LEO friend of mine about this thread. He laughed and said some of the statutes are not enforced (DUI on a bicycle) unless there is some other circumstance that leads them to that such as a possession of illegal substance, damage to property, disorderly conduct etc. He suggested that in the grand scheme of things, he doesn't have time to worry about you mowing your grass impaired UNLESS some other circumstance leads him to you - such as slinging rocks with your mower and hitting cars as they go by or disorderly conduct or impeding traffic by turning around on the road etc.

Most LEOs don't have to look for trouble by giving breathalyzer tests to you for mowing your grass and having a beer, drinking a beer and operating your wheel chair, mowing hay and having a cold one etc They have more than they can do with more pressing crimes.

Doesn't make it okay to be impaired and operate machinery - but he does say if you are otherwise minding your own, around here, the LEOs won't pull up in your drive and administer a field sobriety test UNLESS you are doing something else illegal that warrants their attention.

 

[JDgreen227]

BREAKING NEWS HERE: Local paper has this story today:

Drunken man arrested while driving tractor...a 49 year old Paw Paw, Michigan, man was charged with drunk driving on a county road after police saw the John Deere tractor being operated in both north and south lanes of County Road 655 at about 5 pm Friday. According to the police report, the suspect has had two drunk driving arrests in the past and therefore did not have a valid driver's license.

Ummm...is a valid driver's license a requirement for the operation of a farm tractor on public roadways? I recall driving my Dad's Ford8N on the roads at the at the age of 13...

 

[timster2]

Just got back from the local Memorial day parade in town. The police had Main St. blocked off while the festivities were underway. At the end while on my scooter I rolled over to the road block and asked the two LEOs that were hanging out if this, the scooter, was considered a motor vehicle. Immediately one of he officers stated I could give you a DWI on it. The other officer was not so fast on the draw but thought it was considered a vehicle as well. I informed both to check the law as it was classified as a personal mobility device and not considered a vehicle. In fairness I, like the rest of the crowd, was heading to the American Legion post for a BBQ at the time which may have prompted the DWI statement. Which sort of proves my point that they will write the summons or make the arrest and let you work it out in court.

 

[ruralNearDallas]

Yes, nTSB wants to lower limit to 0.05%.


Very bad idea. Especially since all levels are treated the same.

Most will figure: in for a penny, in for a pound.

 

[J F]

Never touch a machine more complicated than a refrigerator door handle when drinking.

LOL wrds to live by. :laughing:

Even that could get you in trouble. :laughing: