Man Arrested for Driving Under the Influence After Riding a Horse on the Freeway

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. Officials say the 29-year-old Orange County man rode the horse off an exit and onto a roadway in Bellflower where he was arrested. 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 CHP officials were tickled by the incident, 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 from time to time, but one thing the CHP does not do is ‘horse’ around with DUI.”

We are indeed relieved that no animals were injured during this episode on a local freeway. We are relieved that other commuters were safe as well, not to mention the rider who put his own life at risk.

California DUI Laws

Driving under the influence of alcohol, whether the vehicle 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

The dangers of DUI cannot be minimized. 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 is injured by a drunk or impaired driver can seek compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit. Victims can seek compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization 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/