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Lawn Mower DUI: FL Man Caught Drunk on Lawn Equipment

By Deanne Katz, Esq. on August 10, 2012 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

The 'driving' aspect of a DUI applies to any vehicle, including a lawn mower. Maybe you didn't need the clarification but it appears James David Gray could have used it on Tuesday.

Gray was on his way home from mowing lawns when he stopped into a convenience store and bought his first beer in two years. Actually his first 18 beers in two years.

His choice? Natural Light.

Several hours later, Gray was stopped by police after he was seen driving south in the northbound lane. That was the first thing that tipped off police but it wasn't the only one.

The deputy who pulled him over also found a cold beer already opened in the lawn mower's cup holder and saw Gray slurring his speech. His eyes were bloodshot and he smelled of alcohol, reports The Gainesville Sun.

When the law says that driving under the influence is illegal, that isn't limited to just driving cars. Anything with a motor is considered a motor vehicle. Driving a motor vehicle while drunk is against the law even if it's just a golf cart.

Even drunk bicycling is sometimes considered a DUI, depending on how much harm the biker could have caused to the public. In states where the law prohibits driving any vehicle under the influence, bicycles are generally considered a vehicle for the purpose of DUI.

A lawn mower has a significant potential to hurt people so to drive one you need to be sober.

Gray blew a .138 and a .147 at the jail where police took him which is well over the .08 limit. He's going to need a really good attorney to help him out of this.

To cap off this sad tale, Gray doesn't even own the lawn mower he was driving when he was arrested for DUI. He had only just rented it and paid his first monthly payment.

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