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Can I Get a DUI Operating Vehicles Other than Cars in Alabama?

On Behalf of | May 10, 2015 | DUIs

Yes – Although most DUI cases involve motorists in passenger vehicles, trucks, SUVs and/or motorcycles, Alabama DUI laws have a relatively broad definition of “vehicle,” and understanding the scope of this definition can be essential to avoiding a DUI arrest.

“Vehicle,” as Defined by Alabama Law

Montgomery DUI attorneys discuss the legal definition of vehicle and when people can get DUIs for operating things other than cars. Contact us for the best Alabama DUI defense.

Montgomery DUI attorneys discuss the legal definition of vehicle and when people can get DUIs for operating things other than cars. Contact us for the best Alabama DUI defense.

According to Alabama Code § 32-1-1.1(81), a “vehicle” for the purposes of a DUI offense includes:

Every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, excepting devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks or electric personal assistive mobility devices; provided, that for purposes of this title, a bicycle or a ridden animal shall be deemed a vehicle, except those provisions of this title, which by their very nature can have no application.

This means that the following may also qualify as a “vehicle” and that, consequently, people may be arrested for a DUI if they are operating any the following while they are allegedly intoxicated:

  • Bicycles
  • Tractors
  • Riding lawn mowers
  • Animal-drawn wagons
  • Animals, such as horses, donkeys and mules.

What does NOT qualify as a “vehicle” under Alabama law includes (but may not be exclusive to):

  • Trains
  • Wheelchairs (powered and unpowered).

Vehicles and DUIs: More Important Info

  • Drivers’ license suspensions – When people get DUIs related to operating unconventional “vehicles” (e.g., bicycles, animals, etc.), they can still lose their driver’s licenses for the same period of time as if they had been driving a traditional motor vehicle. In other words, there is nothing in Alabama laws that prevents a drivers’ license suspension from being a penalty of a DUI when a case is associated with bicycles or other “vehicles.”
  • Implied consent law – Interestingly, this law only applies to the operators of “motor vehicles.” This means that people who are operating vehicles other than motor vehicles (according to the legal definition) can refuse to consent to BAC testing without incurring automatic penalties.

Birmingham and Montgomery DUI Attorneys at Joe Reed & Associates, LLC

After a DUI arrest, you can count on the Birmingham and Montgomery DUI Attorneys at Joe Reed & Associates, LLC to be aggressive advocates for your rights. For more than 16 years, we have been dedicated to the pursuit of justice in every case we oversee, and our experience, dedication and extensive knowledge of the law makes us effective at helping our clients obtain the best possible outcomes to their important legal matters/cases.

At Joe Reed & Associates, LLC, our Montgomery DUI attorneys are dedicated, determined and dependable. This has been the cornerstone of our success and will be pivotal in getting you the best possible results for your case.

Contact Us

You are invited to attend an initial consultation to discuss your case and learn more about your rights. To set up this meeting today, call us at 334-834-2000, or email us using the contact form at the top of this page. Initial consultations are free in most cases, and evening and weekend appointments are available for your convenience.