A RIDER drunk in charge of his horse on a public road in Galicia is facing two major fines and was ordered to dismount immediately.
The accused was returning from the Equine and Livestock Fair in Moeche, in the province of A Coruña, when Guardia Civil officers from neighbouring Ferrol saw he was taking up too much of the road, putting his horse, other motorists and himself in danger.
Police were carrying out a random drink-driving campaign at kilometre 25.5 of the AC-862 as a safety measure, given the huge numbers of attendants at Sunday's fair.
The rider was already in breach of road traffic laws, being practically in the middle of the road, and his apparent lack of control prompted police to breathalyse him.
Two tests showed results of 1.06 and 1.08 milligrams of alcohol per litre of breath, meaning that, even though the lower figure is always used as the official reading, he was still more than five times over the limit for driving a car.
Cyclists and riders on horseback who use public roads are treated in the same way as drivers in terms of alcohol and drugs.
In the same way as a car driver would not be allowed to continue on his or her journey after being found over the alcohol limit, the rider was ordered to dismount.
He handed his horse to a family member to take home for him.
