Dannon's Journal: Golf Cart DUI

So, the city manager was arrested for DUI and possession of an open container of alcohol in a vehicle. His open container was a glass of wine, and the vehicle was a golf cart.

Let's assume, for the moment, that DUI and open container laws exist for the sake of protecting citizens from the harm that a drunk driver can do. Let's also assume that it's the innocent bystanders we want to protect. I don't much care for laws that exist only to protect us from our own stupidity, there's something a bit Big Brotherish about that in my book, and I'm all in favor of people learning from their own mistakes, just in case you haven't seen my sig.

So: Should DUI laws apply to golf carts? Or, at least, should you be subject to the same consequences for being tipsy behind a golf cart wheel as behind a gas-guzzler? Granted, they are a very common form of transportation in this town. But really, it's not like a golf cart can compare to a half-ton of metal racing at 90-mph.

Any thoughts?

The letter of the law

[robi2106]

Golf carts are not allowed oncity streets because they do not contain the necessary protective measures, (types of brakes, seat belts, bumpers, tail lights, etc). Even though they go slow, it is very possible to hurt the occupant, and possibly even other people on the street like pedestrians. Remember that driving laws have two goals; protecting the other people on the road, and protecting the idiots behind the wheel even if they think they know better. Now as an almost registered libertarian, I will be

Re:The letter of the law

[Dannon]

Well, in this particular town, golf carts are almost as common as cars for getting around. There's even a system of golf cart paths (often used by walkers, joggers, or bicycle riders) that reaches everywhere the streets do.

I guess I get back to the question of: Should a law exist just to protect me from myself? If so, why? If not, why not?

Re:The letter of the law

[robi2106]

I also hold a warry eye towards laws meant only to protect myself. There are other reasons those laws might have been created. For example, liability. If there was one a lawsuit against a municipality because of a lack of (insert thing) then suddenly it becomes a public outcry or at least the legislators think there is an outcry so they make a law.

All those idiots runnign around saying "There outta be a law against that."

yeah. It is their fault.

jason