When most people think of driving under the influence, the image that comes to mind is an intoxicated driver roaming around in a car or other motor vehicle. However, there are a number of other types of transportation devices that people can, and have, gotten charged with driving under the influence while operating including golf carts and horses.

Golf Cart DUI

Recently The Tennessean reported on a golf cart DUI case that resulted in the death of an individual. 55-year old Lori Doyle was out drinking with her husband Timothy and another couple in late July of 2016. According to a police affidavit, the foursome had been downtown and Doyle admitted that she and those she was with had "drank around 10 beers each." Though the group took an Uber home, they did not stay there, instead deciding to take a golf cart to grab food from the Foxland club house. Doyle and the other woman were seated, Doyle driving. Doyle and the other man "were standing on the rear of the golf cart holding on to the roof." Doyle turned the cart too fast, which caused the two men "to be thrown from the golf cart."

The other man suffered "abrasions and scrapes to his arms," but Doyle's husband "struck his head on the pavement." He was airlifted to the hospital. Unfortunately, he died two days later from his injuries. Doyle is now facing a number of criminal charges including "vehicular assault, DUI first offense and implied consent, according to a police affidavit."

Horse DUI

A few years ago, in 2013, Patrick Neal Schumacher, 45, was reportedly on a 600 mile journey by horse in order to attend a wedding in Utah. He took the horse because he had lost his license. Schumacher, who was from Colorado Springs, didn't get too far however before being stopped by police in Boulder. Police were called on Schumacher after witnesses saw him hitting his horse and wander into traffic. When police arrived at the scene, they found the man "slumped over to the right and forcing people off the sidewalks." He was asked to dismount and take a sobriety test. Schumacher did not pass the field test and was taken into custody. When police searched him he reportedly had a dog inside of a backpack, in addition to "a small black powder pistol and beer in one of his saddlebags." He took a breath test, which revealed that his BAC was 0.151.

Schumacher was "arrested on suspicion of charges of animal cruelty, prohibited use of weapons and reckless endangerment, all misdemeanors." In addition, he was charged with "riding a horse while under the influence of alcohol." This charge is traffic infraction, as opposed to a misdemeanor or felony.

After spending the night in jail, Schumacher reportedly continued on his journey. He was able to get his animals back from authorities and he did make it to the wedding.

DUI Attorney 

If you or someone you know has been charged with driving under the influence while operating a motor vehicle or another transportation device, please do not hesitate to contact attorney Aaron Wolff. He works exclusively as a DUI defense attorney and has years of experience defending those charged with DUI.