Drivers on a busy Florida highway were in for a surprise when police pulled over an intoxicated man behind the wheel — of a lawn mower.
Calls began flooding into the Florida Highway Patrol about a man erratically driving a lawn mower down Suncoast Parkway at around 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Fox 13 reported.
A trooper arrived on scene about 20 minutes later and found driver Christopher Spain, 38, sitting on the mower on the highway shoulder.
Christopher Spain, 38, was arrested for DUI on a lawn mower. Hernando County Jail
The Florida Highway Patrol said the trooper immediately noticed signs of impairment, including pinpoint pupils, flushed skin, a dry mouth, and irritation inside Spain’s nose.
Officers also noted that the alleged driver kept sniffling, spitting and clearing his throat while speaking with them.
The trooper attempted field sobriety tests multiple times.
Spain became uncooperative after the third attempt and was placed under arrest.
He was charged with driving under the influence.
Spain was booked into the Hernando County Jail and released Friday afternoon on $500 bond, Fox 13 reported.
Spain is not the first Floridian charged with a DUI while operating a lawn mower.
Calls began flooding into the Florida Highway Patrol of a man erratically driving a lawn mower down Suncoast Parkway at around 8:30 a.m. on Friday. Florida Highway Patrol
Paul Burke was arrested while driving a riding lawn mower in the middle of a highway in Marion County in 2020.
A video of the incident shows Burke — who already had three previous DUI convictions — telling a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy,
“I have no driver’s license at all.”
He also said field sobriety tests weren’t necessary because he had been drinking before briefly trying to perform the exercises.
Burke was arrested for DUI and taken to the Marion County Jail.
In 2017, a Port St. Lucie officer arrested Kenneth Burton Alleshouse after stopping him on a red Snapper lawn mower on US Highway 1.
Alleshouse was carrying a case of Budweiser beer when pulled over.
The officer reported a clear smell of alcohol while speaking with him.
Authorities tested his blood alcohol level and said it was three times above the legal limit.
Alleshouse was arrested for DUI and taken to the St. Lucie County Jail.
According to Florida law, the term “vehicle” means:
“every device by which a person can be transported or drawn upon a highway,” including lawn mowers, golf carts, ATVs, and bicycles.
In Florida the legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08% for drivers operating any vehicle as defined by state law — including lawn mowers.