Man Gets a DUI for Riding a Horse in Kentucky

A Kentucky man was arrested for a DUI for riding a horse. You heard that right - a DUI on a horse. Danny Reynolds says that he had a couple beers at his son's birthday party before going on a ride down a trail with some friends, reports WKYT.
Reynolds, 55, says that he is diabetic and stopped along the trial to eat some crackers to get his blood sugar level up. That's when a deputy arrived and told him to get off the horse. Reynolds apparently staggered when he got off the horse, and the deputy arrested him for driving under the influence.
The vehicle Reynolds was driving, of course, was his horse.
When Reynolds was taken to the police station his blood alcohol level tested at over twice the legal limit. To make matters worse, police found a package of rolling papers and a baggie of marijuana in his pockets, and several beers in his saddle bag and a mason jar which was identified as moonshine, reports WKYT.
Reynolds was charged with driving under the influence, possession of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.
So can Reynolds argue that a horse is not a motor vehicle? Unfortunately for Reynolds, Kentucky has a statute that provides separate penalties for driving under the influence of motorized and non-motorized vehicles. So just as you cannot drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol while driving a car in Kentucky, you similarly cannot drive under the influence while operating a non-motor vehicle like a bicycle, skateboard, or presumably even a horse.
Not every state has statutes specifically related to non-motor vehicles, and the laws in Kentucky may be due to the state's ties to horses (e.g.; Kentucky Derby). Along with the DUI laws, Kentucky also has specific laws banning racing horses on highways.
Do you have more questions about driving under the influence? FindLaw Answers has a robust DUI message board where you can usually get an answer to your issue within 24 hours. Feel free to join the conversation.
Related Resources:
- As If Being Arrested For DUI While Riding A Horse Weren't Bad Enough, The Cops Found His Moonshine (Deadspin)
- Top 5 Strangest Vehicles People Have Driven Drunk (FindLaw's Legally Weird)
- Lawn Mower DUI: FL Man Caught Drunk on Lawn Equipment (FindLaw's Legally Weird)