Hmmmm a big set of beer *****, a sport quad and a nice little jump that was twice as big six beers ago. Sounds like a trip in an ambulance is way to likely to be next.

Do as you please to yourself but remember you have others to answer to when you involve them or theirs, and thats only right but why not avoid it all in the first place. (remember those mean sounding guys earlier in the thread) [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Riding is something we do for fun or leisure and many of us look at having a few cold ones the same way but to even think of riding intoxicated is completely stupid.

Now if you were at camp and had to run from some very angry bears when you had too many beers... oh thats another story LOL.

Seriously I have a very different opinion on performing anything that needs your attention while you are impaired etc. Every thing that you may be doing requires a certain amount of ability or attention and that could be walking, driving, operating a piece of equipment, riding an atv, piloting a passenger plane etc. etc. and each and every one of us will be able to tolerate a different level of impaiment before we become unable to react or think properly. I have been called on this before and the one thing that makes sense is that some people are more able to perform under the influence than others but all are affected and do reach a point that they cant, but only a certain few can tell or admit there at that point.

Another thing that affects this is natural ability. This leads up to impairments other than alcohol etc. and is also something over looked by most people. A person with an above average ability to perform something combined with an above average inteligence will still be able to perform better than an other who is well below average when both are at a similar level of impairment or intoxication etc. This is a point that many will not accepet or acknowledge but unless there is a exception to the level of intoxication of one of the two (some people dont get affected the same by alchohol and some get completely occified from 2 drinks) I have found it to be very true.

I combine this with the basic idea of "stupid is as stupid does" and what I get from this all is that dumb asses have a better chance of being drunken dumb asses [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] or in other words stupid people or those who tend to do dumb things sober are more likely to do something stupid when there drunk. I think we all either have a friend or know someone who proves this to us at one time or another.

As I see it drunken what ever isnt any more of a problem today than it was a hundred years ago but in the last twenty or so years "responsibility" has changed dramaticaly. To me paying a large fine, being charged rediculous insurane fees, losing your license and possibly spending a short time in the can is in no way payback for maiming or killing someone by doing something stupid while under the influence, but paying the same penalty for what some meter reads out after you blow in that hose etc when you have not hurt anyone is just as wrong and unacceptable to me. The punishment must fit the offense or damage done and I dont care if it happened on a atv, in a car or by someone totally sober but dumb as a stone.

Sorry for the sermon but this obviously is something that tics me off.

For the record I cant remember riding intoxicated ever and dont think its a good idea for me, and would prefer that the people I ride with be sensible with drinking but I dont see any problem with moderation till you hit camp where you can drink till ya puke for all I care and you never know if I might join ya, oh and no I never had any DUI's or any other close relationship to one etc.

"Use your head you may be surpised how smart you can be"

 

yeah they can bust you for drinking and driving anything. my friends uncle got nailed last year for drinking a beer on his riding lawn mower while he was cutting the grass. bullsh!t but the law.

 

WTF ...Was he cutting grass in the medium strip on a highway??

I tried to stay away from posting on this subject...

 

no he was on his property, a cop was sitting down the street watching for speeders and seen him take a sip of the beer while riding and pulled up and told him to step off the lawn mower and when he did the cop gave him a soberiety test and he was just at the leagal limit .and he arested him on the spot. i didnt believe him at first till i seen the court papers.

 

A friend of mine was at a bar a few months ago(college town) and decided he was too wasted to drive, so he called a cab to take him home. As soon as the cab pulled up to his house, a cop pulled up behind him, and waited for him to get out, and before he could get to his front door, the cop walked up and proceeded to give him a breathalizer and arrest him for public intox(on his own property!!!!) The other bad thing is that if you leave your car overnight in the bar parking lots and adjoining parking lots, it will be towed by 5 a.m. I've also heard of people getting nailed for public intox while sitting on thier front porch!WTF!!!

 

Thats f%#@ed up there Diablo... But that is the way it goes....He was doing the right thing and still gets harrassed...that bad...Guys I never claimed to aprove of getting wasted and riding around others where you could be putting other people in danger. The situation in my neck of the woods is worlds apart from ya'lls dunes with 400000 people for T-day... My trails are open areas with hardly anyone using them. If me or my pals crash ( drinking related ) It would be just us..99.9% of the time we are miles from anyone. What my ? was about was who drinks a few cold ones on a ride. I, just like everyone else have seen drunk idots...Thats not what I was talking about. YES I have rode my ATV times when I would not have driven a car and if I would have I could have got a DUI. Part of the reason I enjoy atving is the fact I can get away from every thing...get out in the hills and enjoy without worrying about what Diablo just posted.

 

i snowmobile, and see alot of people drive from bar to bar. snowmobiles have power no 4 wheeler can even emagine of haveing, with less control. the end result is if riding in an area where there is even a chance another human can wander into, on a 4 wheeler, or whatever, and you are tipsy in any way, you risk them. is it fun to tip back a few and ride, heck ya, but is it wise, heck no.
i do understand the speeds, and areas, riding style, so on has an affect on drinking. all in all, i might be a little upset if my sons were hurt by a man with even 1 beer in him.
i like the saying someone has on here, not sure who it is though.
to be old and wise, you first have to be young and stupid. that says it all. its only when the stupid part has an ability to affect the innocent that it can be bad. i would really feel bad for anyone with beer in them if they ever harmed one of my kids being stupid. he would hope the crash did him in, before i got to him.
i guess i have gone past the young and stupid part, streight to the old and wiser.
peace all!

 

I have to admit i love to pour one on as much or, more than the next guy but, within limits. Drinking at a bar, Club, in yards playing horse shoes, bean bags, whatever, is fine but Riding is the line!

When i'm at the dunes the morons who "have to" drink and, Ride are the ones always getting airlifted out or, hurting someone else. They always seem to be the ones going the wrong way down the drag strips during a race! The ones Flying within 2 inches of were everyone is parked, going the wrong way in a one direction area. Yes, I see it every weekend in the summer. Some are just morons but most are under the influence.

Do as you wish but, don't ride by me! those of you who have to have a beer or, drink to enjoy riding have bigger worries! You can't have fun on a machine made for fun w/o Booze? They have programs for you as well *** the guys who have to have a beer while cutting the grass or, have to tie one on by them selves in the garage, on the couch or, out by the car on jackstands in thier yard. They call it AA.

I have had to expirienced alcoholism in my family and, friends and, made a rule for myself. I never have a beer by myself! Someone is over or, i'm by a friend or, After riding when the quads are put away, after softball games, met people out for a few (which happens alot) fine but, when you start having to have one when there is no celebration or, activity or, occation you are knocking on the door of the 12 step program!

 

Does that mean you judge people who judge others? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

dude i got a dui riding my horse once.....