Drivers on Florida’s Suncoast Parkway were stunned Friday morning when they spotted a man riding a lawn mower erratically down the highway. Multiple 911 calls prompted a quick response from the Florida Highway Patrol.
Authorities said the driver, identified as 38-year-old Christopher Spain, was found on the shoulder of the road showing visible signs of impairment. He allegedly had pinpoint pupils, flushed skin, and irritation in his nose, and was observed repeatedly sniffing and spitting during his interaction with a trooper.
Spain refused to cooperate with field sobriety tests and was arrested and charged with DUI. He was later booked into the Hernando County Jail and released on a $500 bond that same afternoon, according to local reports.
This isn’t the first time Florida residents have been arrested for driving under the influence on lawn mowers. Similar incidents in recent years have highlighted a lesser-known aspect of Florida law: riding mowers count as vehicles, making them subject to DUI regulations.
