Ohio Police Deputy Pulls Over Amish Man And Teen For Drinking On Horse And Buggy

Drinking and driving rules apply to horses and buggies as well as motor vehicles, an Amish Ohio man learned this week.

A sheriff's deputy in Trumbull County pulled over a buggy when he spotted two men drinking early Sunday. The buggy was equipped with a stereo system on the back and a 12-pack of beer on the roof.

“Unfortunately they're not licensed, as far as the buggy goes, but it is a vehicle,” Chief Deputy Joe Dragovich said. “It's on the roadway. And the OVI [operating a vehicle impaired] laws do apply. You're not allowed to drink and drive or operate a buggy.”

After pulling them over, the deputy approached the pair about their drinking but they ran into a nearby woods. The horse began to run off, forcing the deputy to run after it. It was later turned over to a caretaker who was told to notify police if the owner comes forward.

“I've never operated an Amish buggy with a horse, but I'm told that the horse will know the way home regardless if the operator is awake or even in the buggy,” Dragovich said. “That horse, I think just went a little further down the road and an oil gas well road and stopped.”

The teen passenger surrendered to police, providing a written statement explaining the situation and apologizing.

“I started running because I’m underage and I was drinking,” he wrote. “I know it was a stupid mistake because you don’t know what a horse has on his mind — what he is going to do.”

Police are still searching for the driver and owner of the rig.