DWI For Golf Cart Accident?
I just read a story where one man is being charged with criminal vehicular operation and driving while impaired.
The story states that the two men involved were both friends and were both “drinking heavily” while playing a round of golf. The story doesn’t state the golf course they were playing. The men had brought an extra cooler of beer with them on the course and were also taking advantage of the drinks served by the cart girls. Well, one of them accidentally hit the other one leaving him with cuts, bruises, and an eye injury.
Here’s the weird part. Apparently the man who was hit “doesn’t even blame him” — him being the guy that was driving the golf cart — yet the driver is still being charged with a felony. Not only that, but the course is denying liability even though the cart girls kept serving them drinks after they were “visibly intoxicated”.
This is what I think on the matter. Golf Courses are private property. So, everything that happens on private property the owner is liable for. Take for example the little section of sidewalk in front of your house. If it snows outside and you fail to shovel the snow from in front of your house and someone slips and falls, you will be held liable. Now back to the golf course. If something happens on the course, the course the should be held liable — that’s what insurance is for. If the course is going to give you keys to a golf cart let you drive the cart around and server you beer or other alcoholic beverages while you’re driving the cart, the course should at least be held liable for something.
Also, you can be completely drunk and still drive a car on your own property without receiving a DWI because you’re on private property. Only when you begin to drive on a public road can a police officer pull you over and put you under arrest. With that being said, why then can they give out a DWI when on a golf course? I sure don’t know. Either way, I think it’s a pathetic story and the guys friend doesn’t even blame him. Drop the case and let that be that.