We usually think of DUI laws as pertaining to people driving cars on trucks on the road. However, DUI laws actually apply to operating any type of moving vehicle, and some types of vehicles have special laws that are more strict than for passenger vehicles.
DUIs for Pilots
It seems like a few times a year, we hear stories in the news about airline pilots who are arrested for DUI for flying planes. Just a couple of weeks ago, there was a story about a Southwest Airlines pilot who was confronted when arriving at the terminal because someone reported that he smelled of alcohol. It was 6 a.m., and he told the officers that he had a few beers more than 10 hours ago. FAA rules say that pilots can’t drink within 8 hours of flying, and their blood alcohol content (BAC) cannot be above .04%. Because it is difficult to predict how fast alcohol will be removed from a person’s blood, pilot manuals recommend not drinking 12-24 hours before flying. In this case, the pilot refused to take a breath test, and police claimed that he failed the field sobriety tests, so he was arrested for planning to fly under the influence.
DUIs while on the water
Another recent story was about a captain of a large container ship traveling between Washington state and Oregon who was arrested for boating under the influence. People driving non-passenger ships cannot have BACs over .04, similar to pilots. In this case, he had a BAC that was more than six times the legal limit for him to be operating the ship.
While most people aren’t airline pilots or captaining shipping containers, many people in Colorado operate other vehicles besides cars that fall under DUI laws. For example, in Colorado you cannot operate a boat with a BAC of .08 or higher. It is common for people to go out on a lake or reservoir with friends for the day and have a few drinks. It’s important for boaters to make plans to have sober drivers, just like you would with a car.
Bicycle DUI
Another type of vehicle that falls under DUI laws is riding a bicycle! Many people don’t realize that the laws for DUI on a bicycle are actually the same as for driving a car. A BAC of over .08 on a bike will result in a Driving Under the Influence arrest. A BAC of .05 – .08 can result in arrest for Driving While Ability Impaired, which has almost the same consequences as a DUI arrest, except the is not automatic revocation of the driver’s license. Bike riders will sometimes ride their bikes to the bar as a safer option than driving a car, but they need to be aware of the legal consequences of doing so! You will lose your driver’s license for a DUI while biking conviction.
DUI on a Lawnmower?!
In Colorado, you cannot operate any type of vehicle while under the influence. There have even been multiple arrests in the news over the years of people being arrested for driving their riding lawnmowers while intoxicated. In the publicized cases, the drivers took them out onto the roadway, which brought themselves to the attention of the police. While most people who mow their own lawns after a few beers will never be arrested for DUI, it’s important for everyone to know the laws and make sure they’re following them.
If you do find yourself in a situation where you’ve been arrested for operating a car, truck, boat, or bicycle while intoxicated, it is important that you work with an attorney who specializes in DUI cases to help you navigate your case. Attorney Kevin Churchill has been representing people accused of all types of DUI cases for over 25 years. You can call his office for a free consultation.