DWI penalty is the same for those driving cars, bikes and mowers
MORGANTON, NC (WBTV) – The arrest of an assistant district attorney at the North Carolina coast on a charge of drunk driving while he was on a bicycle has people questioning what drunk driving laws cover.
Eric Bellas was arrested at Sunset Beach on Tuesday after allegedly crashing his bike while intoxicated. Click to read related story.
"The law specifically states that if you are in driving any vehicle upon a public vehicular area or highway or street you could be charged with DWI," said Major Billy Bradshaw of the Morganton Public Safety Department.
Bradshaw said that includes public places off the highway such as sidewalks and paved green ways.
"Bikes, mopeds, lawnmowers and more come under that," he said. The only exceptions he could find in the law books were segways, wheelchairs and people riding horses.
