KIWI Man on lawnmower charged for DUI

[fredie]

HAVING been disqualified from driving his car, New Zealander Richard Gunn thought his ride-on lawnmower made a perfectly acceptable, albeit slow, stand-in.

Reaching a top speed of 8kmh, the mower was not going to win any races, but, as the 52-year-old told New Zealand's One News tonight, he thought it was safe.

But when police pulled the vehicle off the road last night and found Mr Gunn drunk in charge of a mower, he found out he'd got it wrong.

The mower has been impounded, and Mr Gunn has a date in court later this week, facing charges of careless driving, driving while disqualified, and driving with excess breath alcohol.

Police said if the mower was being used on the road, it had to meet Land Transport Safety Authority standards - warrant of fitness, registration, and operated by a qualified, sober, driver.

Mr Gunn said since being disqualified, he had been using the mower to get around town and to the shops.

He thought he was acting within the law.

Even bicycles went faster than the lawnmower, he said.

"I've watched them go past me. I thought I was safe.''

Police say Mr Gunn recorded a breath alcohol test of more than twice the legal limit.

[kiwibryn]

Good grief... you can be done for being drunk in charge of a HORSE, let alone a mower or pushbike... I almost got a ticket for speeding on a tenspeed when I was at school... 40mph in a 30mph area... downhill.... (thats 70 in a 50 zone for you young ones)

It doesn't matter WHAT you are using on the road, the rules apply...

[ynot slow]

At least he can't lose his license,has done that already,if he hadn't lost his license a fine is all he could get anyway.Had a guy pissed in his wheelchair once,he used to ride down the left side of the street,with lights on at night,well lit up,a couple of times the cops gave him a lift.The footpaths in the area were under repair,so the road verge was best area.

[skidMark]

was probably jason gunn, had prob been on the piss with his old mate from back in the day again, that guy thingie.....nothingg but trouble, a bad influence on innocent jason gunn....

yes i havnt slept.

[Flatcap]

Good grief... you can be done for being drunk in charge of a HORSE, let alone a mower or pushbike...

Can you be done for drunk horse riding? But a horse has a mind of its own...

Who's to say you were sleeping off the booze in the saddle and the horse slipped its moorings and decided to wander home?

[Coldrider]

What about a tipple of sherry or two and riding a mobility scooter home

[The Pastor]

what about a pogo stick? can you be DUI on a pogostick?

[Flatcap]

what about a pogo stick? can you be DUI on a pogostick?

Only if you are also nude and obese

[RearWheel]

Only if you are also nude and obese

dosnt apply if your a busty lusty drunk chick on a pogo stick

[xwhatsit]

Dargaville, eh!

Hasn't changed since I last visited then.

[RC1]

Dargaville, eh!

Hasn't changed since I last visited then.

yeah its got subway now

[ManDownUnder]

Did you visit it on your ride-on mower?

I'm on my way now... see you guys Feb 11 or so.

[fredie]

what about a wheel chair

[slopster]

Back in '01 I got taken in for dangerous driving on a pushbike. Eventually got let off with a stern warning when they called my parents in.