Photo: LAPD West Traffic / TMZ.com
If your favorite means of transportation is one of those popular Bird scooters and you think you can hop on one after you’ve had a few drinks, reconsider. This is a motorized vehicle and you can still get in trouble.
It happened over the weekend to an unidentified man, who hoped he could swoosh his way past a DUI checkpoint. LAPD West Traffic officers noticed the 25-year-old man was riding on the sidewalk in Santa Monica, and that was the main reason they hailed him, TMZ has learned. You’re supposed to ride these scooters only on the street.
When they approached him, they noticed he smelled strongly of booze, which immediately triggered the same procedures any driver is familiar with. The guy, however, refused to take a breathalyzer but still performed – and failed – the field sobriety test.
He ended up being booked for driving under the influence, which is a misdemeanor, and his experience can serve as a warning to other Bird riders out there. Just like it says in the Bird user agreement, riders are not supposed to operate it while intoxicated. Because it’s a motorized vehicle, doing differently means you’re liable for a DUI charge. Just ask this guy.
The same goes for riding a horse on the public road, though chances of that happening are considerably smaller than that of riding a Bird scooter. In June this year, one horserider taking part in the Colusa County Fair in North California was arrested for DUI after his horse ran off and trampled an 8-year-old boy.
The rider had been drinking before mounting for the parade and this negatively impacted his ability to control his horse when it became spooked and tried to shake him off. The boy received injuries to his legs but was expected to make a full recovery.
So, remember: ride sober, be it Bird scooters or actual horses.
When they approached him, they noticed he smelled strongly of booze, which immediately triggered the same procedures any driver is familiar with. The guy, however, refused to take a breathalyzer but still performed – and failed – the field sobriety test.
He ended up being booked for driving under the influence, which is a misdemeanor, and his experience can serve as a warning to other Bird riders out there. Just like it says in the Bird user agreement, riders are not supposed to operate it while intoxicated. Because it’s a motorized vehicle, doing differently means you’re liable for a DUI charge. Just ask this guy.
The same goes for riding a horse on the public road, though chances of that happening are considerably smaller than that of riding a Bird scooter. In June this year, one horserider taking part in the Colusa County Fair in North California was arrested for DUI after his horse ran off and trampled an 8-year-old boy.
The rider had been drinking before mounting for the parade and this negatively impacted his ability to control his horse when it became spooked and tried to shake him off. The boy received injuries to his legs but was expected to make a full recovery.
So, remember: ride sober, be it Bird scooters or actual horses.
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