Originally Posted by WebTraveler
Yea, thats incredible logic....because when the tug was done, the pilots would be flying the plane, so is the argument that the police should have let them actually take off before arresting them?
Isn't it though? Hopefully, this is simply an attempt to get the charges tossed on procedural grounds. I doubt they'd use this in front of the jury. If so, wow.
I knew a retired police Lt. who told me (at least in NJ) that the DUI law was interpreted by the courts to mean not only driving itself - but also the "intent" of driving. For example, a person could be arrested for DUI for simply putting the key in the ignition which the pilots probably did in this case.
Side comment: Does each piece of equipment have an ignition/key system similar to what is found in cars? I know some smaller planes such as Cessnas do, however the security at some smaller unmanned airfields does not (theoretically) approach that of a commercial airport.