POLICE-VIERS: Drunk Cyclist Spends Night in Custody
Drunk man arrested after failing to cycle home in Germany
Nettetal-Hinsbeck (news release)
On Thursday evening around 7 p.m., an ambulance crew was called to Hinsbeck after reports of a man lying in a front garden, apparently asleep and in need of assistance. Emergency responders quickly determined that the 51-year-old local resident was intoxicated. Despite this, after being woken, he repeatedly attempted to get back on his bicycle to ride home.
When police officers arrived, they repeatedly warned him that cycling under the influence—especially when visibly unable to stand straight—was illegal. The man refused to cooperate and eventually mounted his bike. He was then taken into custody, where a blood sample was taken; the results are still pending.
While current temperatures may not yet inspire long cycling trips with pit stops, the upcoming holidays—traditionally a time for bike rides—serve as a reminder: cycling under the influence is not exempt from the law. In Germany, relative impairment begins at 0.3 per mille blood alcohol concentration. Anyone displaying signs of impairment, such as swerving, can face consequences at this level. Absolute impairment starts at 1.6 per mille, and cycling at or above this limit constitutes a criminal offense, regardless of visible impairment.
Police advise careful planning for your journey home if you intend to drink while cycling. The 51-year-old from Hinsbeck could have simply walked—his home was not far away. /hei (198)
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