Gainesville DUI Attorney :: UF Football Player Arrested for DUI on Scooter

July 11, 2013

A University of Florida football player was arrested last month for DUI on a scooter.

The Florida freshman walk-on punter was arrested in the early morning hours on June 29 and charged with driving under the influence.

The 19-year-old was arrested by Gainesville Police after allegedly running a stop sign on his scooter.

Police claim he ran the stop sign early Saturday morning, right in front of a Gainesville
Police officer who was about to make his way through the intersection.

According to the police report, once the student saw the police car, he swerved and almost fell off his scooter.

Police say he was able to recover and steady the motor scooter, and then pulled out his cell phone and attempted to drive away.

The police officer followed the freshman to a nearby parking garage and stopped him.

The arrest report notes that the student smelled strongly of alcohol and had watery, bloodshot eyes that appeared to be extremely dilated.

The 19-year-old, who turns 20 in September, reportedly refused multiple sobriety tests and apparently told police he did not live in Gainesville.

Reports indicate that he denied he was drinking, but did admit to being at a local bar.

• The freshman was booked into the Alachua County Jail around 4:30 a.m. that morning.
• There has been no news on what disciplinary action will be enforced from Gator Head Coach Will Muschamp and the team.

While the allegations against this Florida football player have yet to be proved, if you have a few drinks at a bar and opt to driver your scooter home thinking this will save you from a possible DUI, you are sadly mistaken. Driving a scooter with a blood alcohol level at 0.08 or above could lead to you being charged with DUI. In the state of Florida the term “vehicle” does not simply mean a car, truck or SUV. In fact, mopeds, motorcycles, bicycles, scooters and even lawn mowers are considered “vehicles” under state DUI laws.

If you have been charged with a DUI while riding your scooter, your next step should be to contact a DUI Defense Lawyer as soon as possible. The consequences of even a first-time DUI offense in Florida carry significant consequences that could negatively affect your future. While you may think driving a scooter after consuming a few cocktails is a much safer alternative than getting behind the wheel of a car, this is just not true. Driving a scooter, moped or even riding your bike while under the influence of drugs or alcohol can result in the exact same penalties as driving your car intoxicated.

If you or someone you know has been charged with DUI on a scooter, moped, bicycle, car or any other “vehicle” in Gainesville or any surrounding area, contact a Gainesville DUI Attorney at Whittel & Melton today online or call 352-264-7800. We will challenge every aspect of your DUI to make sure that you get the best possible result, despite the circumstances of your arrest.