by KYW's Brad Segall
A Havertown (Delaware County), Pa. man is a fugitive from the law for failing to show up for his sentencing last month after he pleaded guilty earlier this year to DUI while riding his bicycle last July 4th in Montgomery County.
Prosecutors say Jeffrey Burke (above) had a blood alcohol level of nearly twice the legal limit when he was pedaling home from a fireworks display in Narberth last year. He was involved in a crash with a car, and admitted to police that he had drunk four beers before getting on his bike.
But prosecutor Tony Gil says Burke, 35, apparently didn’t know that riding a bike while under the influence is a crime:
"Under Pennsylvania law, it doesn’t matter whether you’re driving a car, a bike, or even a horse. It’s still a DUI if you’ve been drinking.”
Burke told police that he rode his bike to the fireworks show because he knew he was going to drink.
Because it’s a second offense, Gil says, Burke was likely looking at a sentence of 30 days of inpatient treatment. But now, because he failed to show up for his sentencing, up to six months behind bars is possible.
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