A man accused of riding a white horse on the 91 Freeway in Long Beach was arrested by California Highway Patrol officials on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, the man’s blood alcohol concentration was more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 percent. The 29-year-old Orange County man rode the horse off an exit and onto a Bellflower roadway, where authorities arrested him. Officials administered a field sobriety test on the man, which he failed. He was booked into jail.
The horse was unharmed and released to the man’s mother. No one else was injured. While the incident tickled CHP officials, they released a serious statement saying no one should put their animal at risk in this manner. The CHP also sent out a message about drunk driving with this tweet: “We get a chuckle out of interesting situations we encounter occasionally, but one thing the CHP does not do is ‘horse’ around with DUI.”
We are relieved that this incident on a local freeway did not result in animal injuries. We are relieved that other commuters were also safe, not to mention the rider who risked his own life.
California DUI Laws
Driving under the influence of alcohol, whether it is an auto, motorcycle, boat, or horse, is illegal under California law. California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a) prohibits motorists from operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. It is also illegal to operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent. In addition, it is against the law for anyone who is under the age of 21 to operate a vehicle with any amount of alcohol in his her system.
Dangers of DUI
One cannot minimize the dangers of DUI. Riding a horse while under the influence, especially on a freeway where vehicles average speeds of 65 mph, is ridiculous and extremely dangerous for everyone on the roadway. Anyone who a drunk or impaired driver injures can seek compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit. Victims can seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, hospitalizations, and pain and suffering. An experienced Long Beach personal injury lawyer can help injured victims better understand their legal rights and options.
Source: http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2018/02/25/horse-on-freeway-dui/
