Motorized Bikes Landing Some DUI Offenders in Trouble
For Ricky H., finding a job in this economy wasn’t easy. Having a criminal record and no driver’s license didn’t help.
Even when a Titusville golf course hired him as a mechanic, the 51-year-old still needed a way to get to work. Public transportation was sporadic, and he couldn’t car pool. So Ricky, who wanted to help provide for his wife as she underwent cancer treatments, turned to a motorized bicycle.
For $163, he purchased a beach cruiser at Wal-mart and then added a gasoline motor he bought online. He assembled his new wheels himself. Ricky, who suffers from heart problems, thought it was a quick and effortless way to commute — and a legal method to skirt licensing requirements.
But, like many Brevard County residents who use motorized bicycles, Ricky wasn’t aware he was breaking the law.
Electric- and gas-powered bicycles have gained popularity in recent years as fuel prices have risen, but because of laws that are, in some places, unspecific and because dealers might falsely claim they’re allowed, some operators have found themselves in jail. Police officers and prosecutors take a hard line on people riding them, especially those without a license.
Ricky, who lost his license four years ago and was imprisoned because of a DUI conviction, was arrested last month after a state trooper spotted him riding on Cheney Highway. In addition to operating the bicycle without a license or registration, he could face charges of violating probation.
“He’s had a heart attack, so this made it a little easier to get around,” said his brother-in-law. “We’re not making excuses for what he’s done in the past, but he was trying to better himself.
“It’s just really messed up.”
A perfect example of how difficult it is to get out of the system once you’re in, especially without the help of an attorney. If you would like to discuss your DUI charge, the consequences of a conviction or another related matter, contact Musca Law’s Brevard County DUI attorney for a free and confidential legal consultation right now.
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