.08

[JLsTyee]

I vote for the "Zero"!!! I like drinking and having a good time, quite often actually... But I never drive. What gives me the right to endanger someone else? If someone under the influence hit and kill my pregnat wife and daughter. I'd end up in jail for murder!!!!! Cause he/she wouldn't deserve to live in my eyes. I'm sure 99% of you fathers would feel the same way...

[wastewaterguru]

Yep. If I am alone and not endangering anyone and it is a LEGAL substance that I am consuming.......then why the *&^% should anyone care if I want to mow my grass drunk or operate my trolling-motor-powered-inflatable-raft on my private swimming pool or pond.

If the public is not in danger from your actions (which is what the DUI laws were written for) then getting drunk off your arse should be perfectly legal.

[Dave B]

What if you run over one of your kids? Doesnt the law protect them too?

Every Cops episode is a response to a domestic on private property.

[JLsTyee]

If you are stupid enough to get plowed and kill one of your own kids, then Bubba deservs the right to feed you his "sausage"!

[magnumthunder]

I never got 1 on my property riding my harley around drunk. The cop asked if I was going to be going on the road. I said, you nuts I'm way to drunk for that. he then told me that my pipes were not legal and I could get a ticket for noise! You just said a PUBLIC trail!!! I can walk around my yard with a loaded gun and they cant do a thing to me but once I touch the road its a different story!! Also DUI does not mean under limit. DUI=Driving Under the Influence

[tashit]

Quote:

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BTW-Technically, you can also be arrested for DWI if you leave the bar and go sleep it off in the back of your car. If you have your keys on you and are drunk, you are said to be in control of that vehicle and can be arrested.

You dont even have to be on the road.

---

I have to say I find that hard to believe. I've always heard you have to have the keys in the ignition or something like that. I'm not saying you're wrong necessarily because I sure don't know what the actual law is but I've slept in my car drunk before and I wasn't just sleeping it off, that is just where I was staying for the night and my car was more comfortable than any other option I had. How about sleeping in an RV then? Wouldn't that be the same thing? Now maybe if you're sleeping in the parking lot or a street in front of the bar, they might be able to get you for something but isn't it "DRIVING while intoxicated" and "DRIVING under the influence"? Sleeping in your car drunk sure isn't endangering anyone. I bet plenty of people that "sleep it off" in their car wake up and think they are ok but are still drunk, in which case then they should get the DUI/DWI but just because you have your keys on you while your sleeping in your car shouldn't get you in trouble. Who wouldn't have their keys on them if they were sleeping in their car?

[DomW]

Here's the statute.

http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/stats/169A/20.html

Note the sub. 1 paragraph where it states "It is a

crime for any person to drive, operate, or be in physical

control of any motor vehicle within this state or on any

boundary water of this state"

In case you still don't think you can get a "dooie" on a lawn mower...

169.01 Definitions.

Subd. 3. Motor vehicle. "Motor vehicle" means every

vehicle which is self-propelled and every vehicle which is

propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley

wires. Motor vehicle does not include an electric personal

assistive mobility device or a vehicle moved solely by human power.

I know of instances where people have been charged and convicted of DWI/DUI when operating golf carts, mowers, etc. on private property. Additionally, I know people who have been charged and convicted for "sleeping it off" in their car. Here's a clever idea: Go hide your keys somewhere nearby before going to your car. Write down the location of the keys on a piece of paper which you will place in your pocket. When you wake up sober, you will check your pocket and find said note.

Much better idea: Don't get into that situation to begin with. I am always a little disappointed by people arguing for reasons they should be allowed to drink & drive. So many people seem to think the rules shouldn't apply to them because they are on private property, because they don't "feel" drunk at .10, because they were passed out drunk in their car when the police found them (shouldn't police arrest a driver who drives into a parking lot and hits a car, then falls asleep in his car? He/she could argue they got drunk after hitting the car).

Drinking and driving is one of the very most dangerous things you can do to yourself and others. To tie this subject back into fishing, think of the boating fatalities you have heard about this year. How many of them involved alcohol? I bet 75% or more.

Get drunk at home. Be responsible. There is lots of fishing/hunting left to do before we are done.

[deeky]

Another way it was explained to me regarding private property and mowers and such -

If you make your own decision to get drunk and end up running yourself or someone else over, or even only cut your foot off, it's MY tax money that's going to cover the police work, court costs, etc. - which there will be. It may be your decision and your own life you are playing roulette with, but it's everyone else's money, etc. that cleans up afterwards. Same reason attempted suicide is illegal in many places. Thanks to those who are responsible with my resources.