Passenger Charged With DUI For Steering Car While Driver Ate

[matcom]

<snip>

CARLISLE, Pa. -- A Pennsylvania man is fighting a DUI charge, on the grounds that he was in the passenger's seat.

A state trooper said Derek Pittman had reached over and was steering the car while the driver was taking a bite of a sandwich that he was holding in both hands.

The trooper said the car was weaving on the road before he pulled it over. He said he then noticed a strong odor of alcohol coming from the car and saw the driver holding a large sandwich with both hands. So he gave Pittman a field sobriety test and he failed -- with a blood alcohol content nearly three times the legal limit for driving in Pennsylvania.

The trooper said he gave the test only to Pittman because the alcohol odor wasn't coming from the driver; it was coming from Pittman. Records show that when the trooper asked the driver why the car was swerving, Pittman leaned across the front seat and told the trooper it was his fault because he had briefly held onto the steering wheel while his friend was taking a bite of his sandwich.

Pittman's attorney said the guy in the driver's seat wasn't given a sobriety test -- and besides, he never took his hand off the steering wheel, so the charge should be thrown out.

Court records show that the first district judge refused to sign the original arrest warrant for Pittman.

"I don't believe there is probable cause to believe Mr. Pittman was in actual physical control of the vehicle," the judge told the trooper in a note, according to The Patriot News.

http://www.wftv.com/automotive/9614657/detail.html

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. They need to also make it illegal to eat sandwiches while driving

any food that's bigger than bitesize should be forbidden while driving, IMO.

I've seen to many assholes swerving and doing dangerous shit while eating while driving (as well as the cell phone assholes, the makeup assholes, the reading assholes, the smoking assholes, and the 'dog on the driver's lap' assholes)

[matcom]

2. I do Sudoku puzzles while driving

thank GAWD you don't want to ban THAT!

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. Oh, that's fine. I don't mind the sleepers, either. Heck, we all get

tired eyes once in a while, don't we?

I most of the time while away the hours behind the wheel by posting on DU. In fact, right now I'm steering with my knees through Chicago traffic while I type this.