DWI Laws in Minnesota and across the nation can sometimes get a little out of hand.
Sometimes you look at the news reports and think to yourself, "that was crazy and dangerous." In 2007, a New Jersey Judge ruled the Zamboni driver can not be prosecuted for DUI / Drunk Driving / DWI because the Zamboni can’t be used on the highways nor carry passengers. (AP) Another man tried to get away with the same act in Portland, ME, in 2008, his luck was not so good. (AP)
But in other cases you start to wonder if the laws are being stretched too far. We all have a general understanding of the "intent" of DWI laws, even if we question their actual application. In Alabama, 2007, a young woman was arrested for a DWI when her vehicle had a mind of its own, literally. She was arrested while riding a horse. (AP) The same thing happened to a 42 year-old man in Kentucky, 2005. (TheLouisvilleChannel.com)
In Minnesota, I feel that we are at least a little more reasonable about what constitutes a vehicle for the DWI statutes. 62 year-old Dennis Anderson probably thought so as well. That is until he managed to modify his La-Z-Boy to include a stereo, cup holders, and a converted lawnmower. Eventually on his ride home, he hit a parked car and was arrested for driving while intoxicated. Mr. Anderson received 180 days stayed and two years of probation after pleading guilty.
Since then it appears that Mr. Anderson's La-Z-Boy was seized after the arrest and sold through its eBay auction. The city managed to receive a winning bid of $10,099.99. More information can be found at Law.com
-Landon Ascheman
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