Can You Get a DUI on a Golf Cart, E-Bike, or Other Nontraditional Vehicle in Georgia?

The vast majority of DUIs occur in automobiles, pickup trucks, and motorcycles. Nevertheless, Georgia DUI laws don’t apply only to ordinary cars. A person consuming alcohol or drugs might think they can still operate a golf cart, e-bike, or other non-traditional vehicle. This would be a huge mistake.

Georgia DUI laws cover more than just cars

According to O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391, a person can commit DUI if they drive a moving vehicle or are in actual physical control of a vehicle while they are under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other substances to the extent that they are less safe to operate their vehicle.

In the statute, the term “vehicle” is used instead of “motor vehicle. Georgia has a very broad definition of the term “vehicle”. Georgia defines a vehicle as any device used to transport persons and property on highways.

This means whether Georgia’s DUI statute applies to a particular device depends on how Georgia law classifies it.

Can you get a DUI on a golf cart?

Driving impaired while operating golf carts and other vehicles could result in DUI charges in Georgia. In communities that frequently use golf carts to travel along public roads and pathways, the issue becomes pertinent.

Georgia has laws that apply to “personal transportation vehicles,” which can include certain motor vehicles with specific passenger-carrying capacities and speed capabilities.

One cannot assume that using a golf cart in place of a regular car eliminates the risk of a DUI charge. It is possible to face criminal liability when the police suspect you’re driving a qualifying vehicle while impaired.

What about an e-bike? 

E-bikes are even more complicated.

Under Georgia law, electric bicycles are defined based on several factors, including motor assist and maximum speed. Significantly, Georgia law defines the term “vehicle” in such a way that certain exclusions can apply in relation to some e-bikes. For that reason, whether conduct involving e-bikes gives rise to a specific DUI offense depends on the type of e-bike used, how it’s operated, the location, and which statute the prosecutor wants to apply.

This distinction matters when prosecuting a crime involving an e-bike.

Other unusual vehicles can raise similar questions

Scooters, mopeds, low-speed vehicles, and other forms of transportation may be governed by different laws in Georgia. Merely adding a motor to a small vehicle or using one that does not look like a typical car does not eliminate the danger of DUI.

The importance of classification is due to the fact that there are certain definitions within Georgia’s laws that define how the matter is charged. That being said, you should be very careful about operating any vehicle while under the influence. You could be charged with DUI or something else, depending on the situation.

Talk to a Cobb County, GA, DUI Attorney Today

Andrew L. Schwartz, P.C. handles DUI cases for people facing charges. Call our Cobb County DUI lawyers today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin discussing your defense strategy right away.