Florida often gets mocked for the bizarre stories that seem to always happen there, but when you hear about a story like the following, it's pretty easy to understand why there's a meme of “Florida Man” on the internet.

Last week a deputy in Nassau County, Florida saw a man and a woman traveling on bicycles without any lights at night. After they were almost hit by a car, the deputy pulled them over and noticed they had bloodshot eyes and reeked of alcohol. After charging them with DUI and putting them in the back of his patrol car, things got interesting.

“While I was outside of my patrol vehicle, (the suspects) took their clothes off and started to have sex,” the deputy wrote in his police report. The deputy opened the back door of the patrol car to stop them, and somehow the man managed to slip out of the deputy's grasp (perhaps because there was nothing to grab onto). The man was apprehended a little later, and on top of the DUI charge, he has also been charged with theft because he took handcuffs with him when he escaped.

Both suspects have a rather extensive rap sheet with law enforcement.

Washington DUI Laws in Non-Motorized Vehicles

This story and another story out of Ohio where two Amish men ran away after police noticed they had a case of beer on top of their horse-drawn buggy are good reminders to take a look at Washington's DUI laws when it comes to non-motorized vehicles.

Unlike most states that have DUI laws that apply to riding a bicycle, Washington State statute says you cannot be charged with a DUI if you are riding a bicycle. Furthermore, Washington law also says that riding a horse while drunk is not a crime, because Washington defines driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol while operating a motorized vehicle.

The law states that a motorized vehicle is “any vehicle that is self-propelled and every vehicle that is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails.” Likewise, a horse-drawn buggy would not be considered a motorized vehicle in Washington.

DUI Defense Attorney

If you are arrested and charged with a DUI in Washington, the first thing you should do is cooperate with the police and keep your clothes on while you're in the patrol car. The second thing you should do is immediately call the Law Offices of Steve Karimi. Steve Karimi has been defending Washingtonians for years against DUI charges. Call his office at 206-621-8777 or fill out an online contact form to learn how he can help you.