CONWAY, New Hampshire (AP) -- After losing his driver's license on a
drunken driving conviction, Carl Simonds
apparently thought he had found an
ingenious way of getting to the liquor
store -- aboard his lawnmower.
He quickly learned his error when he
was arrested.
"I was laughing at first," Simonds said. "It's
not too funny -- I could go to jail -- but I have to laugh."
Police received a tip that Simonds, 54, was
making the more than four-mile
round trip from his home in Eaton, Maine,
along the state border with New
Hampshire, to a Conway liquor store by mower.
Sgt. Sean Billert said he pulled Simonds over
after spotting him moving along a
state route going about 15 mph. Simonds had a
newly bought bottle of vodka
with him, Billert said.
"I thought he was joking, but he wasn't
joking," Simonds said. "He took me to
the courthouse and fingerprinted me."
Simonds, who was released on bail, said he
didn't know a license was needed
to drive a lawnmower. Police impounded the
mower.
