I can not beleive it!

[Otto Orive]

Just please see this!

http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/stories/ktvbn-oct2107-segway.1930c7082.html

[bystander]

Just please see this!

http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/stories/ktvbn-oct2107-segway.1930c7082.htmlIt doesn't say if there was a field sobriety test given. It seems like it would be easier to "glide" a straight line on a gen1, rather than a gen2 - lol.

[MJEdelman]

Any idiot who drives, cycles, or glides (etc.) while intoxicated deserves a DUI at a minimum. Harsher punishments would be better.

[KSagal]

It is hard to know what is the real story with out any source of information on what really happened. Generally, the mainstream media has not been supportive of segway rights, and they are often wrong about much of what they write.

I have seen so many poorly researched stories in major and minor newspapers, I give one article from one person, very little credibility.

How do we know if that person was actually drunk or under the influence of some drug? What about if their meds were off and they did not know? What if there is some effort to impede segway use is behind all this? What if this person is just a drunk, with a history of doing antisocial things? We do not know.

Personally, I do not think this is good for the community of seggers, but so what? I also do not think that you can be arrested for DUI if on a segway, because it is not a vehicle. You should be able to be arrested for public drunkeness, if that is what was happening, or for creating a distrubance... If a person were drunk, and running on foot into people, they surely would arrest them for something. Why would those same charges not apply here?

To me, it makes little sense for a DUI, which could result in the loss of a driver's liscense, because of activity on a segway... Much like I would feel it inappropriate to loose my driver's liscense for decisions I make on my bicycle.

Again, if this was a drunk person acting improperly, throw the book at them! We just have no way to know what actally happened.

[dynk]

I never heard of anyone being arrested for riding an electric wheelchair DUI, they would just be arrested for Drunk and disorderly, not DUI. I can not justify DUI on a Segway either.

[hellphish]

I'm with Karl on this. Nothing you do outside of your car should impact your priviledge to drive one. Assuming the area is clear, it is quite a bit of fun to "steer erratically" on any Segway!

One thing though, I thought for some reason the legalese definintion of a DUI was "operating a conveyance while intoxicated." Perhaps that is a different offence I am thinking about.

[aviators99]

If we start fighting for rights to treat Segways specially for bad behavior, we will only increase public dislike for them. The article says the person was driving erratically and almost hit someone.

[Otto Orive]

If we start fighting for rights to treat Segways specially for bad behavior, we will only increase public dislike for them. The article says the person was driving erratically and almost hit someone.
The judge should called reckless endangesment

[DCTenor1]

I don't know, in my experience it often seems to pedestrians that we have "almost" hit them! ----- and yet a lot of times it's just their shock at being passed by a FutureMan on his Robot. "Omigod did you see that! he almost hit me!"

Um, no he didn't.

Still, assuming the area is clear, come on, I'm sure several of us can attest that gliding under the influence is SO MUCH FUN.

[nickyboy]

Any idiot who drives, cycles, or glides (etc.) while intoxicated deserves a DUI at a minimum. Harsher punishments would be better.

Got my vote. I have lost two very close friend to two seperate incidents involving drunk drivers. Personally, I would ban them from driving for life, with jail for being more than 2 times over the limit.

[bentbiker]

If we start fighting for rights to treat Segways specially for bad behavior, we will only increase public dislike for them. The article says the person was driving erratically and almost hit someone.

MJ/Nick/Aviators99,

I don't believe anybody is asking for "rights to treat Segways specially for bad behavior." Most of us, however, do not want to be subject to vehicular codes if we are not driving a vehicle. Would you feel the same way if he had been charged with failure to give an appropriate turn signal, driving a vehicle on a sidewalk, or driving an unregistered vehicle? As pointed out by others, there are plenty of ways to handle public intoxication, and public endangerment without resorting to vehicular codes.

As for bicycles -- in most places, a bicycle IS subject to vehicular codes and you can be charged with DUI. As a cyclist, I have no problem with that, as I am riding in the road and among other vehicles.

[aviators99]

MJ/Nick/Aviators99,

I don't believe anybody is asking for "rights to treat Segways specially for bad behavior." Most of us, however, do not want to be subject to vehicular codes if we are not driving a vehicle. Would you feel the same way if he had been charged with failure to give an appropriate turn signal, driving a vehicle on a sidewalk, or driving an unregistered vehicle? As pointed out by others, there are plenty of ways to handle public intoxication, and public endangerment without resorting to vehicular codes.

As for bicycles -- in most places, a bicycle IS subject to vehicular codes and you can be charged with DUI. As a cyclist, I have no problem with that, as I am riding in the road and among other vehicles.

I agree with what you say, but DUI should be an exception, in my opinion. Anyone who would glide (in public) while intoxicated shouldn't be allowed to drive a motor vehicle. By the way, there is precedent in that pilots who get caught for DUI can lose their pilot's license.

My definition of intoxicated may not match the state's, however.

[Desert_Seg]

...I also do not think that you can be arrested for DUI if on a segway, because it is not a vehicle. ...

I never heard of anyone being arrested for riding an electric wheelchair DUI, they would just be arrested for Drunk and disorderly, not DUI. I can not justify DUI on a Segway either.

In most areas, DUI is the common term but "Operating Under the Influence" is the applied law. This law has been applied to folks driving bikes, motorcycles, cars, riding lawnmowers, and yes, even wheelchairs (many cases, in fact).

A vehicle is further defined as a conveyance in, by, or upon which person or property may be transported. Just because a Segway don't fall under the Vehicular Code doesn't mean it isn't a vehicle.

We scream for equality but don't want it when it isn't a good thing. If the person on the Segway was indeed under the influence (alcohol, drugs, etc) then he / she deserves to punished under the DUI laws of their community. Equality is equality across the board, not picked only from the good side.

Steven

[nickyboy]

MJ/Nick/Aviators99,

I don't believe anybody is asking for "rights to treat Segways specially for bad behavior." Most of us, however, do not want to be subject to vehicular codes if we are not driving a vehicle. Would you feel the same way if he had been charged with failure to give an appropriate turn signal, driving a vehicle on a sidewalk, or driving an unregistered vehicle? As pointed out by others, there are plenty of ways to handle public intoxication, and public endangerment without resorting to vehicular codes.

As for bicycles -- in most places, a bicycle IS subject to vehicular codes and you can be charged with DUI. As a cyclist, I have no problem with that, as I am riding in the road and among other vehicles.

An error of judgement due to being intoxicated deserves severe punishment. It makes no difference what or where the "vehicle" is IMHO. A Segway carries a lot of weight and momentum. Imagine hitting a small child or elderly or frail person.

[CovRob]

In the UK the most commonly reported offences are drinking & driving a motor vehicle (one that fits a "car" definition). There is other, less commonly used, legislation that also covers a range of other circumstances:
Drunk in charge of a pedal cycle;
Drunk in charge of a horse;
even drunk in charge of a child under the age of 5!
etc

The abbreviation D I C (Drunk in Charge) covers them all...

This is in addition to other drink offences (exceeding the prescribed limit, for example).

Does the same conveniently generic but loose terminology also apply to DUI in the the States?

Here it has to be an offence directly related to motor vehicle useage to attract an adverse impact on a driving licence though...

[japaneezy]

In the UK the most commonly reported offences are drinking & driving a motor vehicle (one that fits a "car" definition). There is other, less commonly used, legislation that also covers a range of other circumstances:
Drunk in charge of a pedal cycle;
Drunk in charge of a horse;
even drunk in charge of a child under the age of 5!
etc

The abbreviation D I C (Drunk in Charge) covers them all...

This is in addition to other drink offences (exceeding the prescribed limit, for example).

Does the same conveniently generic but loose terminology also apply to DUI in the the States?

Here it has to be an offence directly related to motor vehicle useage to attract an adverse impact on a driving licence though...
a number states use the term OVUII (Operation of a Vehicle while Under the Influence of an Intoxicant)

[Isidore]

One issue that you would certainly have to be careful with in the UK, and maybe other countries is whether the segway is a bicycle or a vehicle. In the UK, the authorities would treat a Segway or for that matter something like a go-ped as a vehicle which means if you were stopped and breathalysed , you would lose your driver's licence for several months. This would not happen on a bicycle even if you could barely stand.

[Eric Payne]

I'll tell you what I can't believe.

I can't believe someone would pay between $5K and $10K for a Segway, then go out and get drunk and try to ride it, especially a "lean steer" model. Which leads me to wonder if, for some reason, this person was no longer permitted to drive for reasons other than disability. I'd bet, if this person fights this matter, when it gets to court, it's going to be revealed he had the Segway because his license had been pulled by the state due to DUIs (behind the wheel), and this guy thought by getting a Segway he was "beating the system."

Even if there's a question as to whether he should have been charged with DUI while on a Segway, I doubt there's any question he could have been charged with "Drunk in public," which many jurisdictions allow to be enhanced, both civilly and criminally, if the alleged drunk is also engaging in behavior placing others in danger.

Eric Payne
Glendale, AZ

[hellphish]

I agree with what you say, but DUI should be an exception, in my opinion. Anyone who would glide (in public) while intoxicated shouldn't be allowed to drive a motor vehicle. By the way, there is precedent in that pilots who get caught for DUI can lose their pilot's license.

My definition of intoxicated may not match the state's, however.

Right, because small Segways and large cars are so similar, right?


I don't know, in my experience it often seems to pedestrians that we have "almost" hit them! ----- and yet a lot of times it's just their shock at being passed by a FutureMan on his Robot. "Omigod did you see that! he almost hit me!"

Um, no he didn't.

Still, assuming the area is clear, come on, I'm sure several of us can attest that gliding under the influence is SO MUCH FUN.

From experience I can tell you that a PT will go faster the more intoxicated you are. This is fact.

I'll tell you what I can't believe.

I can't believe someone would pay between $5K and $10K for a Segway, then go out and get drunk and try to ride it, especially a "lean steer" model. Which leads me to wonder if, for some reason, this person was no longer permitted to drive for reasons other than disability. I'd bet, if this person fights this matter, when it gets to court, it's going to be revealed he had the Segway because his license had been pulled by the state due to DUIs (behind the wheel), and this guy thought by getting a Segway he was "beating the system."

Even if there's a question as to whether he should have been charged with DUI while on a Segway, I doubt there's any question he could have been charged with "Drunk in public," which many jurisdictions allow to be enhanced, both civilly and criminally, if the alleged drunk is also engaging in behavior placing others in danger.

Eric Payne
Glendale, AZ

Believe it. I go bar hopping on my Segway all the time. I've never had a DUI before and I am fully licensed to drive a car and a motorcycle, although I prefer to ride my Segway just about everywhere.

Due to the way Segways operate, I would really like to know exactly which qualities a cop is looking for when trying to determine if a PT rider is drunk or not. Going too slow? Swerving? Unable to maintain a straight line?

In my motorcycle training it was actually RECOMMENED to swerve (when safe) to reduce riding fatigue.

Another thing: There are legal limits that apply to how high your BAC can be before you are legally barred from operating a car or bike on the street. Does everyone think that the exact same BAC numbers should apply to pedestrians operating pedestrian devices on the sidewalk, or do you think those numbers should be reconsidered based on the relative effects, risks, and circumstances specific to sidewalk usage? Food for thought.

[ryan_walters]

The abbreviation D I C (Drunk in Charge) covers them all...

That's awesome. I didn't know in the UK you could get a ticket or be arrested for being a D I C.

[CovRob]

That's awesome. I didn't know in the UK you could get a ticket or be arrested for being a D I C.
If only! ;)

[Suzined]

In Oregon I had a client convicted of DUI while "driving" a wheelchair down the street. (He had several dozen DUIs, had his licenses revoked (all four of them) and his cars confiscated.) The Judge invited me to appeal if my client could afford it. Part of the problem was my client's health was so bad--liver, naturally--the county couldn't afford to keep him in jail and pay his medical bills. So he was sentenced to home detention with an ankle bracelet. A deputy was to install the bracelet when he was sober. Every time she showed up he was drunk...and naked. Finally they booked him, waited till he sobered up (about fifteen hours and three medical calls later), installed the bracelet and took him home. The judge finally let me withdraw (it was pro bono anyway) He died about two months later.

The law, in its majesty, allows both the rich and the poor...to sleep under bridges. - Anatole France.