You can get a DUI in a car or truck. Police will charge you for operating a boat under the influence. But did you know you can land in serious trouble for taking a ride in a horse-drawn buggy after having too many? That’s exactly what happened to one Amish man when the police caught up with him and his equine designated driver.
An Amish man getting a drunk driving charge in his horse-drawn buggy has to be one of the oddest DUI charges of all time
American law enforcement arrests thousands of motorists every day for driving under the influence (DUI). However, they don’t frequently put people in handcuffs for taking a drunken ride in a horse-drawn buggy.
In a recent social media video, police officers are trying to stop a horse and buggy in the dark. However, when one of the cops gets close enough to the carriage, he notices that the operator is unconscious. Worse yet, the young rider is very, very drunk.
The recording police officer reported the crime to another unit after it showed up at the scene. “There’s a Bud Light can sitting there, and he’s passed clean out.” That officer asserted that the horse could likely get the driver home. “The horse knows how to get home,” he said.
Even though the horse likely knew the way home, the police endeavored to stop him. “We got a drunk Amish guy passed out in a buggy,” the first cop said on the radio. After the police officers got him out of the buggy and on his two feet, they tried to get to the bottom of the situation. “Until I can determine who you are, I’m going to detain you.” Not exactly eloquent, but it conveys his point about the DUI.
Interestingly enough, several viewers wanted the police to leave the passed-out Amish man alone. “Dude, let the horse do its job and leave him alone.” Another viewer commented, “What did he do wrong? He’s not driving a motor vehicle. Leave him and his horse alone.”
Other viewers were expressing just how hilarious the whole situation seemed. “I can’t stop laughing. I can’t believe this is not ‘Reno 911’.” It certainly seems like something they’d write into the Comedy Central show.
So, does cruising in a horse-drawn buggy while you’re inebriated land you a DUI? While some viewers were imploring the police to leave the young rider alone, it was a way to land a drunk driving charge. After all, he was in control of the “vehicle.” In fact, you can get a drunk driving charge while riding a horse.