Generally, driving under the influence means operating a car after having too much alcohol to drink to do so safely, says Broward DUI Attorney William Moore. That is not the only circumstance in which a person can be charged with DUI, however, and the other situations that can result in a criminal charge are often surprising. Fort Lauderdale DUI attorney William Moore hopes that law enforcement agencies use their discretion in making DUI arrests.
Boating under the influence is one common crime that many people are surprised they could be face criminal charges for committing. Relaxing with friends and family on a sunny Saturday afternoon with a cooler of beer is a fun pastime, but law enforcement agencies patrolling the water can and do make arrests for BUI when the operator of the boat is over the 0.08 percent blood alcohol concentration level at which Florida law presumes the driver of a motor vehicle is impaired. The operator can also be arrested if there is other evidence to indicate that the person is impaired, even without knowledge of the person’s BAC or when the person’s BAC is lower than BAC but nonetheless displays symptoms of intoxication.
Operating other “vehicles” besides cars and boats can result in a DUI, as well. For example, riding a bicycle while intoxicated can fall within the meaning of the DUI statute. Around the country, people have been arrested for operating various types of vehicles while intoxicated – including tractors and other farm equipment. One man was arrested for operating a Zamboni ice-clearing machine while under the influence of alcohol at a New Jersey ice-skating rink, although a judge later ruled that a Zamboni does not meet the definition of a “motor vehicle” according to state law.
The intoxicating substance need not be alcohol, says Fort Lauderdale DUI Lawyer William Moore. In fact, many people are arrested for DUI based on a police officer’s suspicion that the person is under the influence of cocaine, ecstasy, methamphetamines, or other drugs. A person can even be arrested for DUI when operating a car under the influence of common prescription drugs, like Ambien and Xanax. In some cases, police have alleged that over-the-counter drugs, especially allergy medications like Benadryl, played a role in a driver’s impairment.
Fort Lauderdale DUI attorney William Moore provides outstanding DUI defense in Broward, Fort Lauderdale, and Fort Lauderdale-Dade Counties. If you have been charged with a DUI, contact Fort Lauderdale DUI Lawyer William Moore, P.A.
This article should be used for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice nor as implied representation of any person.