MARION COUNTY, Fla. — A drunken Fort McCoy man was arrested for driving a lawnmower on a busy road, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said.
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Dashcam shows Burke driving down the middle of Highway 316 on his lawnmower when he was pulled over by Deputy Richard Jentsch on Aug. 5.
MAN WITH 3 PRIOR DUI CONVICTIONS IS FOUND DRIVING LAWMOWER WHILE INTOXICATED ON HWY 316FORT MCCOY MAN WITH 3 PRIOR DUI CONVICTIONS IS FOUND DRIVING LAWMOWER WHILE INTOXICATED ON HWY 316 Paul Burke has three prior DUI convictions and has had his license suspended three times as well as revoked four times all for DUIs and refusals to submit a breath sample. On August 5, 2020 Deputy Jentsch observed Burke driving down the middle of HWY 316 on his lawnmower… When Deputy Jentsch made contact with Burke, he could smell the alcohol coming from his breath and his speech was slurred. Burked attempted to do the field sobriety but stated he couldn’t do it because he had been drinking too much. He was arrested and transported to the Gold Star Hotel. Driving a lawnmower in the middle of a road where the speed limit is 55mph is dangerous and illegal … add being drunk into the mix, it can be come fatal..
Posted by Marion County Sheriff's Office on Monday, August 10, 2020
The speed limit in the area is 55 mph.
When asked to perform a field sobriety test, Burke told the deputy he couldn’t because he had been drinking too much, officials said.
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“There’s no sense in it (because) I’ve been drinking,” he said. “I’ve been drinking too much.”
Burke was arrested on charges of driving under the influence.
The Sheriff’s Office said Burke has three previous DUI convictions and has had his driver’s license suspended three times and revoked four times for DUI charges and refusals to submit a breath sample.
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