What is a DUI? A DUI is an offense of driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, which might impair your judgment and make you incapable of maintaining focus and driving. You must have heard that you can be charged with a DUI if you are driving a vehicle while you’re under the influence of drugs. However, most people wonder that Can you Get a DUI on a skateboard? The good news is the DUI law isn’t for skateboarders as it is applied to only motor operated vehicles or machines. You won’t get a DUI riding the skateboard by the police. Let’s discuss the DUI thing in detail in this article.
How does drinking affect your skateboarding capabilities?
Now, if you’ve had a few too many drinks and you decide to show off your skateboarding skills to your friends, it can result in nothing but trouble. Drinking reduces your ability to react quickly and impairs your judgement. This makes you less capable of adequately handling a skateboard. While cruising may not hurt, doing complex will undoubtedly result in accidents that may cause injury to you and those around you.
Can you get a DUI when skateboarding?
Now the question is: Will you get a DUI if youre skateboarding under the influence? Well, there is no definitive answer to this because this depends entirely on the rules and regulations of the state or city youre living in. If the police suspect that you may be under the influence of drugs, they will make you take a breathalyzer test which checks your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). A BAC of greater than 0.08% is considered worthy of charge in most areas. Depending on the local law, you may be fined or charged with a DUI.
Skateboarding Laws
Your state must have a defined set of laws regarding skateboarding protocols. They help make sure that all skaters stay safe and do not cause any harm to others. This includes wearing proper safety gear such as helmets and knee pads which help keep you safe in an accident. In most states, the police have the authority to charge a person not wearing proper safety gear while skateboarding.
In addition, all cities have areas defined where you can skateboard freely and other restricted places where you may not. If you are found skateboarding in the restricted areas, and the police find you drunk or on drugs, you may be issued a DUI.
Why do the police issue a DUI?
A DUI is a price you pay for the offense of driving under the influence of drugs. A drunk person can hardly walk straight, so he or she will not be able to handle a vehicle or a skateboard properly. While skateboarding, balance is of prime importance and a drunk person can surely not maintain that. This will hurt the rider and possibly put other people in danger in case of a bad accident. This is why drunk drivers and skateboarders are strictly punished because they are putting their lives in danger and the lives of all those around them.
How to avoid getting a DUI while skateboarding?
First and foremost, do not ride your skateboard while you are drunk or on drugs. This will not only save you from a DUI but also a nasty accident. If you have had a drink or two and need to commute to someplace, ask someone else to drive you or call a taxi. This will keep you and all those around you safe.
What to do if you are wrongly being issued a DUI?
If you are a beginner, you may lose balance while skateboarding or swerve a little too much. This may also happen if there are too many bumps on the road. In this case, the police may suspect that you are not sober and ask you to stop. If a police officer stops you, make sure you slow down and come to a halt immediately. Don’t get afraid and try to run away. This will only make matters worse. Respectfully answer all the questions asked by the officer and if he or she ends up issuing you a DUI despite you not being drunk, stay calm in the situation. You can always seek legal counsel later on, and if you are not in the wrong, you will surely get justice.
Will you be put in jail for skateboarding while youre under the influence?
Well, this depends on the laws in your state and also on the situation. You may be fined with a lot of money, and you may even be expected to serve jail time. This depends on how strict the law is in your state and how much trouble you have caused. How can you escape all that? Just don’t drink before you go skateboarding. It’s that simple!
Final Words
You may or may not get a DUI for skateboarding while you are drunk or high on drugs. However, you should be more responsible in both cases and just not ride while you’re drunk. It is better to be safe than sorry. We hope we have answered all your queries in this article. However, if you still have any more questions, you can always reach out to us by commenting below.
Following the rules is must in any game and most of the times newbies don’t know the rules and face issues. Similarly choosing the right skateboard as beginner is must in skateboarding. Check out our reviews of the best beginner skateboards.
Important FAQs about DUI while Skateboarding
Is it illegal to ride a skateboard drunk?
This depends on the law in your state or country.
Can you get a DUI on an electric skateboard?
Yes, you can be charged with a DUI on an electric skateboard.
Are electric skateboards street legal?
No, electric skateboards are not street legal.