[billfish]

Jackson Hole Daily | Bikers injured; boaters jailed

 

[Paddle Iraq]

I read that today and was pissed. Does anybody know the boaters involved, or who called them in? Its not a crime to pull over on the side of the river. If the rangers only saw them on the side of the river, they may have a defense because who is to say that they didn't start drinking until after they pulled over? Also, BUI in GTNP is still .10, not .08.

 

[Fallingup]

No crime in being on opposite sides of the river. Maybe someone had a swim. How did they get the blood alcohol level tested? Sounds like the raft guide turned them in?
I would fight this one if it were me.

 

[Flying_Spaghetti_Monster]

Here in Utah we have a group of kayakers that like getting hammered before running that river. (And many other rivers)I can't stand drunks on the river. Party after the run not a the Put In.

 

[teletoes]

Why would anyone submit to a field sobriety test when you have the RIGHT to refuse it? "Am I legally required to submit to your request?" "No.. Ok then, I'd rather not. Am I free to go?"

 

[justinm]

I think this is one of those isues that should be stautorily restricted to only apply if the said boater is or has created a disturbance or safety issue.

If you get so sloshed the rescue squad has to save your butt, yes, you should be liablet to pay for that cost and suffer legal consequences.

If your a competent paddler, know how to handle yourslef, and are out having a good time a well known strecth of river, I don't think the gov't has much place to setting riverside sobriety checkpoints!!

 

[Randaddy]

Here in Utah we have a group of kayakers that like getting hammered before running that river. (And many other rivers)I can't stand drunks on the river. Party after the run not a the Put In.

Party at the put in AND after the run. Come on Utah, get wasted!

 

[yesimapirate]

Why would anyone submit to a field sobriety test when you have the RIGHT to refuse it? "Am I legally required to submit to your request?" "No.. Ok then, I'd rather not. Am I free to go?"

You definitely have the right to refuse, but I'm pretty sure that in CO if you refuse the field test, it's an automatic 1 yr suspension of your license. I knew a guy from TX that refused when he was here in CO because in TX you can refuse with no issue. They took him to police office, left his car, where he blew below legal limit. But because he refused he had his license taken, and had to have his car towed to a friends house. Who knows if this guy told me all the details. He was a friend of an ex-gf, but he told me he declined and lost his license.

 

[yesimapirate]

Also, I read the Jackson Hole article. It leaves quite a few holes in the story. Biker rescued from undisclosed problem, biker rescued from injury, raft guide narcs 3 kayakers, park ranger arrests 2 kayakers, and Jackie Skaggs is gotta keep people safe. If I was drinking a beer on the bank with a boat in front of me, I don't think that qualifies as BUI. But my guess is there was bit more to it than just that. Maybe the guide got peed on as he floated by? Maybe the kayakers had 3 empty bottles of jack and 30 cans of PBR lined up in front of them? Maybe they were 3 off duty guides and the guy working was pissed that he was stuck with gapers instead of drinking with the other guys. At this point, can't say that we really know.

 

[H2UhOh]

Also, I read the Jackson Hole article. It leaves quite a few holes in the story. Biker rescued from undisclosed problem, biker rescued from injury, raft guide narcs 3 kayakers, park ranger arrests 2 kayakers, and Jackie Skaggs is gotta keep people safe. If I was drinking a beer on the bank with a boat in front of me, I don't think that qualifies as BUI. But my guess is there was bit more to it than just that.

Maybe the kayakers were obviously drunk (i.e., couldn't walk without stumbling) and the tests just confirmed it.

 

[MT4Runner]

Why would anyone submit to a field sobriety test when you have the RIGHT to refuse it? "Am I legally required to submit to your request?" "No.. Ok then, I'd rather not. Am I free to go?"

"Am I being detained, or am I free to go?"

You definitely have the right to refuse, but I'm pretty sure that in CO if you refuse the field test, it's an automatic 1 yr suspension of your license.

That's always made zero sense to me.

Technically, in MT, you could get a DUI on a bicycle and lose your driver's license.

 

[glenn]

Technically, in MT, you could get a DUI on a bicycle and lose your driver's license.

Actually that's not true...

 

[glenn]

Actually that's not true...

Took forever to find but here:
MONT CODE ANN § 61-8-401 : Montana Code - Section 61-8-401: DRIVING UNDER INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS -- DEFINITIONS

Article 3(b)

Bear in mind if you are being a pain in the ass there are other things to use to lock your drunk ass up, but it's not a DUI or DWI.

 

[MT4Runner]

Wow! I didn't realize that it specifically excludes bicycles in the definition of vehicle in this part.

...not that I was worried. :lol:

 

[Milquetoast]

You can get a DUI on a bike in CO. A co workers wife got one but they plead it down to something else that didn't take her license.

BUI's have been very popular here lately on the lakes.

 

[BrianK]

In Colorado you do not have to consent to field sobriety tests and you will not lose your license automatically because of it. By driving you consent to chemical testing - breathalyzer, blood, urine and you will lose your license for a year if you refuse these, but you do not have to consent to field sobriety tests and you should politely decline these tests if there is a doubt as they can only hurt you.