Drunk Driving and Motorcycles

When it comes to drunk driving in the United States, DUI laws are strict and the penalties that come with a DUI arrest and conviction can potentially be life changing.  What about drunk driving on a motorcycle; are the laws different than those for cars or trucks?

Driving a motorcycle requires constant focus and attention to everything going on around you. Driving a motorcycle after you have had a few drinks means that your judgment is impaired and your reaction time impeded.  Those are not good traits to have when you’re driving anything, much less a motorcycle.  Statistics have showed that motorcycle operators who are drunk are up to ten percent more likely to be involved in a fatal accident.

According to the law, motorcycles are considered to be motor vehicles and as such, drunk driving laws apply in the same ways that they would if you were driving a passenger car.  While legal blood alcohol limits may vary from state to state, all states agree that driving a motorcycle under the influence of alcohol or drugs violates the same laws that are on the books for cars, trucks and other motorized forms of land transportation.  In short, if you are stopped for DUI on a motorcycle you may be subject to the same field sobriety testing procedures and you risk the possibility of being arrested and having your driver’s license suspended.

More articles on motorcycle drunk driving.