Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
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ANDERSON, Indiana - Police say a race car driver faces a DUI charge in addition to several others after he intentionally crashed into another driver. 49-year-old Tommy Grant Lathan of Anderson was arrested Sunday morning and charged with one count of operating while intoxicated, one count of criminal recklessness and one count of intimidation.

According to Anderson Police Department public information officer, Joel Sandefur,  Lathan was black-flagged and forced out of a race Saturday night but re-entered the race where he intentionally crashed into another driver. No injuries were reported.

Sandefur said officers smelled alcohol on Lathan's breath after the race and several witnesses reportedly saw him drinking between races.  "I have never seen this before in 18 years," Sandefur said. "But this is not something that is going to be tolerated."

According to Sandefur, police obtained a warrant to take a blood sample early Sunday.  It was sent to the lab for testing.

Lincoln 1845 ft/.35 mile T1=118MPH 
Eldora 2287 ft/.43mile T3=135MPH
Port 2716 ft/.51 mile T3=TBD
Grove 2792 ft/.53 mile T3=135MPH
Selinsgrove 2847 ft/.54 mile T1=136MPH
"I didn't move to PA from El Paso in search of better 
weather." Van May

Anybody know the outcome of the driver who arrested at Oceans earlier is the season for the same thing?

How about another sprint class/ the .15 class. Very exciting

I was unaware that you could be punished with a DUI under these circumstances--seeing that it is not a public roadway.  If that were the case 30 or 40 years ago, poor Dick Trickle would have been in the clink 3 or 4 times a night from what eyewitnesses tell me. 

Not saying that it is a bad idea that they can charge him with DUI, just saying I wasn't aware that it was an option.

You can get a DUI on a riding lawn mower, bike, or a horse. Hard top and super modified drivers back in the day got their drink on in the pits often. 

I knew if 2 accomplished late model drivers who would have 2-3 beers to relax before a race.  Not saying I condone it . Just saying .

I know a former midget drivr who would kill a 6 pack every night he raced from the time he entered the pits until he left the track!  Go figure.

 
I LEARNED ESP FROM MY MOM

"PUT YOUR SWEATER ON: DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW WHEN 
YOU'RE COLD?"

Egras

I think the situation here and I don't know if the track is privately owned or owned by a public function like a fairground, but regardless even if it is privately owned, it is holding an open to the public function. The public is there and there is a opportunity that someone could be hurt by this person if they are under the influence and driving a vehicle, and don't forget that you can get a DUI operating pretty much anything with wheels on it, not just a licensed car. That racetrack, even if it is privately owned is still a public commercial place, not different than say a hotel or restaurant which have parking lots and the cops could give you a DUI in the parking lot of those businesses if you were caught and also could go in the business and give a minor in possession ticket if someone underage got caught drinking at the establishment. I read some different peoples opinions online just now and its even in question if you could get a DUI on your own private land that no one else but you is on and you were driving around in a field drunk, it sounds like different states writing of the DUI laws may dictate this. I think something like that comes up very rarely because in a situation where you are on your own land by yourself, why would the cops be involved anyways, but I suppose there could be scenarios where they would, like say you hit somethingm with the vehicle and were injured and had to be taken to the hospital. But that would then have to be up to the prosecutor to decide if what you were doing was illegal in your state.

I think we all know that the atmosphere of drinking and driving has changed greatly over the past 20 years, what happened at this track, 25 years ago would have likely been dealt with and no one would have been arrested as back in the day I'm sure there was plenty of drivers who were drinking prior to going out to race, there is just zero tollerance for drinking and driving anything now days. I'm not saying I go 1 way or the other over it, its just my thoughts on what happened.

http://gph.is/XMLGff

I was also wondering if the track was a public fairground or private. ??   I do see all of the arguments for being able to get one--I just didn't know it was possible to get a DUI while operating on private property.(not to be confused with leaving the roadway and operating on private property)  I know that if you wiped out and hurt someone and it was found that you were drunk, they could obviously sue your pants off.  I just didn't know it was an actual DUI on private land--unless the public were allowed to wander in without paying an admission fee and holding a ticket that said "this venue is not responsible for damage or injury".  

I guess I am kind of mixed on what way I want to lean here.   I do realize (as someone pointed out earlier) that you can get a DUI on a horse, bike, lawn mower--or whatever (i actually know a couple of people busted on lawn mowers--yes, i'm a redneck i know) .  This is because you could cause an accident on the road or sidewalk involving other pedestians or drivers.   I would like to think that if i wanted to drop a 12 pack and do donuts in my own yard the only thing they could get me for would be disturbing the peace.  

Then again, who knows in this country anymore.  We are in the midst of a huge government crisis and it seems like more people are worried about the offensive nature of one of the names of an NFL team that has been around for decades.

aaahhhhhhhhhh...........memories of flemington

Does anyone have an idea on the division he was racing?  At Anderson could be any division from sprints to junkyard specials. 

Hmmm......"He intentionally crashed into another driver."  I didn't know Sammy was there that night.

Ok ... im a Sammy fan and that was kinda funny. Not hilarious but kinda .

FALSE.  Lawn mower and Bike...yes.  Not on a horse depending on the State law!  A horse has a mind of it's own, therefore the rider isn't in control of it solely (in some States).  Most States have adopted the new ruling of "OVI" (Operating a Vehicle while Impaired).  It has nothing to do with "motorized" vehicles anymore.  It doesn't matter where you're caught doing it either.  If you think you can down a 12 pack and jump in your truck and do burnouts in your driveway, you're wrong.  If your neighbor calls the cops on you for a complaint, you can be arrested on your own Proerty for a DUI.  Another little fact...if you're State has a "legal limit" of .08 and you blow a .06, don't think they can't arrest you.  All .08 means is the "legal limit" it doesn't sanctify the term "operating a vehicle while impaired"   The More You Know!!!!!!    SIGNED: A 2 time veteran of Drunk School!!

do it in the dirt

Priceless

Why cant they take a breathalyzer test before each race...sorry but it isnt worth the risk.

I like the 2 time Drunk School Veteran thing Meatbag.

Also 1 other thing I've learned over the years is that another way they can get you is Actual Physical Control, which is actually the same punishment as a DUI, you often see this as what people who fight their DUI charge get it plead down to. But what it is is how they get people who are maybe say sleeping it off in the backseat of there car and have the keys in their pocket and how I was explained it is they have the ability to at anytime jump up in the seat and drive the car and are close enough to do it. I also heard a cop one time tell me that techiniquely they could pull into a bar parking lot and you could be standing by you car talking to someone with your keys in your pocket and they could give you this actual physical control ticket because you are close enough to your car and it was very probable you were going to get in and drive away. Now I know this scenario is kind of far stretched but the cop said they could possibly do it, now you might not have to get all that great of a lawyer to get out of that one but it could happen. This also jumps into a whole new realm that I doubt we want to get into here, but it seems to be an issue of Intent, which many would argue cops aren't there to arrest people for what they think they may do they are there to arrest them for what they are or have done wrong. Anyways, I'm just saying what I've been told, not what I think is right or wrong.

http://gph.is/XMLGff

If id have been arrested for intent  all the times i couldve been id have gotten the chair by now 

I wonder if anyone has ever gotten a DUI on a Uni-cycle?

http://gph.is/XMLGff

I’m not condoning what this guy did but the track should have issued the punishment.  There is no reason to call the police and bring them into this matter.  By doing so all it does is make most of grassroots racing look silly.

The next story will be for a 14 year old driver getting a ticket for operating a vehicle without a license.  I can see the report now; Police responded to report of an underage driver crashing another driver on the track..