Ice Rink Zamboni Operator Charged With DUI

AP ^ | 6/28/5

[SmithL]

Newark -- You can't drive with alcohol in your system, even if the vehicle is a four-ton ice-cleaning machine at a skating rink.

Zamboni operator John Peragallo was charged with drunken driving after a fellow employee at the Mennen Sports Arena in Morristown called police and reported that the machine was speeding and nearly crashed into the boards.

[SmithL]

Iced!

[Hi Heels]

[snarks_when_bored]

"I'm sorry, Ossifer, I was just on my way home to puck my wife."

[ProudVet77]

He's on private property!
The owner of the rink could have him for damaging his property, but DUI? That's nuts.

[oblomov]

What's private property?

[Echo Talon]

DUI at 4mph :D

[Horatio Gates]

How did the blond die while ice fishing?

She was run over by the zamboni.

[Echo Talon]

Riding with Debilzan on the rink during several acceleration runs, I soon discovered that the Zamboni leaves the line with alacrity (revved to its 3000-rpm redline), rockets up to 9.7 mph and then stays at exactly that speed for the full 200-ft. length of the rink. Those old myths that you will "black out" or "be unable to breathe" at speeds above 9.5 mph proved to be completely untrue. I was perfectly comfortable, once I got over the excitement, and felt no ill effects then or later.

found that from here

Ok im sorry a DUI at 9.7mph :D

[ProudVet77]

touche'

[SmithL]

Just because you CAN drive at a breathtaking 9.7 mph doesn't mean you SHOULD.

Drive defensively!

[lainie]

Well, since they mention he's "worked for the Morris County park system since 1994," I guess it must be a county employee on county property. Which means he's cold busted. So to speak.

[Fierce Allegiance]

He's lucky to get up to 9.7. There is usually someone in the left (passing) lane of the rink going 8.9 or so, so I can't get by with my zamboni.

[Graycliff]

I believe it's public, and he was a county employee.

[ProudVet77]

My thinking as he was not on a public road. So I'd still question whether DUI is the appropriate cime. I worry when terms get tossed around. It can trivialize the crime.
Sort of like "hate crimes".
It's a pet peeve with me.

[Graycliff]

But he was driving a county owned vehicle on public property.

Just remember, the county makes more money off a DUI, than it will a simple PI.
Actually i would have just fired his butt, and be done with it.

[ProudVet77]

Actually i would have just fired his butt, and be done with it.

I'm not concerned about the DUI from a personal reasons, most dangerous thing I do when I have a few beers is post here. ;) But I'm convinced the country we are giving our kids is not as good as the country we were given. We were able to survice without MADD and SADD and all the other cottage industries that shape public policy. Remember the drunk Otis on the Andy Griffith Show? Or the character Frank Fontaine played on the Jackie Gleason Show? We've become so serious about everything and lost our perspective. Sorry for the rant. Time to turn the air conditioner. ;)

[EQAndyBuzz]

"He's lucky to get up to 9.7. There is usually someone in the left (passing) lane of the rink going 8.9 or so, so I can't get by with my zamboni."

The fumes from the Zamboni will kell you before you hit the boards.