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Can You Get A DUI When You Ride A Bike?

by Gene Vasquez

Depending on your state, riding a bicycle while intoxicated may cause you to get a DUI charge. In some areas, a DUI on a bike carries the same penalties as a DUI while operating a vehicle. The following are some things you need to know about a DUI while riding a bike:

How Do You Get a DUI on a Bike?

Although DUIs are different in each state, the act of getting charged is similar. You can get a DUI by driving on a roadway that is open to the public while your blood alcohol level is above a certain percentage or you are under the influence of a controlled substance.

Most states apply the law to motor vehicles, but many also include DUI charges against all vehicles, which include bikes. Some states define a vehicle as any device which transports a person or property on a public road. If you are riding a bike and you have been drinking or taking a controlled substance, you may face a DUI charge.

What Can Happen to You?

The penalties for your bike DUI can depend on your criminal history. If you have never been charged with DUI before, you may only receive a penalty for a misdemeanor in many states. Otherwise, you can receive fines, time in jail, lose your driver's license, probation, and community service.

In states with specific penalties for DUIs on bikes, you may not receive as harsh a penalty as you would in a motor vehicle. However, any charges you receive after a bike DUI can count against you as a prior conviction. This means if you get another DUI, you will get a much harsher penalty. Prior convictions of a DUI are often treated the same whether they took place on a bike or in a motor vehicle.

In addition, you may also face additional charges other than a DUI if you ride a bike while under the influence. You can also face reckless driving or public intoxication charges which comes with additional penalties.

If you are charged with a DUI while riding a bike, be sure to speak with a DUI lawyer to see how the law is applied in your state. You may or may not face charges based on where you were at the time of the incident. You need to know what to expect if you find yourself in this situation. Contact a DUI lawyer for more information.

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