So perhaps you've had a few drinks at a bar, and you're smart enough to decide not to drive home under the influence. Thinking of an alternative way to get home, you remember that your bicycle is also parked outside and you decide to mount the two-wheeler and journey off into the distance.
You may think that this is a clever way to avoid a DUI, but in fact, you're also committing a crime by biking home drunk. That's right, you may not have realized it but cycling under the influence is also illegal and can be punishable with a fine up to $250, according to USA Today.
Cycling under the influence, otherwise known as a CUI, can have detrimental consequences just like a DUI. While bicycles are not considered vehicles under California law, the state has a separate vehicle code that states it is unlawful to ride a bicycle on a highway while intoxicated. The term "highway" includes public streets but excludes driveways and private roads, according to DMV.
Under California DUI laws, the legal limit is .08 percent blood alcohol content, but with a CUI there is no number that defines a legal limit, so if you're at all intoxicated and are forced to take a chemical test, it's likely you'll be charged with a CUI. The typical punishment for cycling under the influence is a $250 fine and possibly jail time after the incident until the victim sobers up. While the punishment is less harsh than a DUI, a conviction can still be part of a criminal record that can haunt a person for life.
If you feel that you've been wrongly accused for cycling under the influence in Los Angeles, you should contact a Los Angeles DUI defense lawyer to learn more about fighting your case.
Related Resources:
- California Crackdown on Biking While Intoxicated (FindLaw Blotter)
- Seven Tips for Defensive Bicycling (FindLaw Knowledgebase)
- Los Angeles DUI Defense Lawyer Directory (FindLaw)
