Who was at Leguna Seca this weekend? Somebody made the news

[Gooch1971]

Posted on Autoblog today
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Drunk father arrested while driving on Laguna Seca Raceway
Posted Oct 23rd 2007 1:56PM by John Neff
Filed under: Motorsports, Etc.

When pulled over while under the influence and driving his 1980 Porsche on Laguna Seca Raceway last Sunday around 5:20 PM, John Patrick Krukar told police that he was lost and trying to find his hotel. Well seriously, what would you say? The situation is actually more serious than it sounds, as authorities found Krukar's 5-month-old son riding shotgun in the car with him. The intoxicated man had reportedly reached speeds of up to 90 mph on the track, which had just seen a big weekend of racing including the final round of the 2007 ALMS Series. Krukar, however, is no Dindo Capello. Local police actually implied that this type of thing has happened before, Laguna Seca being so large and apparently difficult to lock down. They booked Krukar on driving under the influence with the added bonus penalty of having a child under 14 in the car at the time. His son was also taken into Child Protective Services, which sounds like the best thing for this involuntary co-driver.

Thanks for the tip, SKL!

[Source: The Californian]
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[ckissick]

He was just looking for a corkscrew to open another bottle of wine.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

He's now qualified to fly for America West.

[Aerkuld]

No doubt this guy was endangering his son and himself, but it's a bit different from driving on a highway isn't it?
I suprised that someone can be charged for driving under the influence on what I'd assume is private property.

[Mo_Gearhead]

QUOTE: "I suprised that someone can be charged for driving under the influence on what I'd assume is private property."

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I too would like the lawyers to chime in on this aspect?

[motion]

I believe the track is still considered to be Ford Ord. I had a buddy get a ticket from the Monterey Police for riding his motorcycle without a helmet at the track. They do enforce all laws there.

[tcar]

What's 'Ford Ord'?

[motion]

Sorry, Fort Ord. Army base.

[Markus33]

I've seen plenty of cops patrolling roads around the track and within the Fort Ord property after race weekends. Lots of places for them to hide around bushes and old barracks...

Markus
'80 SC Targa

[silverc4s]

Pretty sure the military base has been closed for a few years now. It's a golf course, college campus, race track & a few other things...

[rammstein]

Guy sounds like the biggest ********* ever. Driving on the track, drunk, with his kid in the car, presumably without a helmet. Maybe not even a proper harness.

Totally uncool.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by Mo_Gearhead

QUOTE: "I suprised that someone can be charged for driving under the influence on what I'd assume is private property."

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I too would like the lawyers to chime in on this aspect?

Not a lawyer, here. And laws may vary state-by-state. But I asked a Massachusetts cop friend this question a few months ago. Essentially, even if it's private property, if there is an assumption that the property is open to the public, then LEOs can enforce the vehicle code there. For example. If you're driving drunk in a K-mart parking lot, you can get tagged for drunken driving. Obviously the parking lot is NOT public property. But it's considered open to public passage (unlike your driveway, for example), so cops can enforce laws there. That's even true if it's "after hours" (i.e. the K-mart is closed).

[on2wheels52]

I( have no problems with the intervention, no vehicles for me when drinking. Like I'd mow the lawn in that conditiion.
Jim

[juanbenae]

i believe laguna seca is run by group that leases from the county of monterey parks dept so its public land. one of many reasons sound is such an issue there on track days. the operators get certain number of days with high sound and we fridee users gotta be all hush hush.

by 530 day two of the event? not many people around, dude just waited around and drove over from the parking areas. good plan except for the loaded and kid part.

i was too drunk to be driving from there 530 saturday so my pops drove me home....



T$

[legion]

If DUI can be enforced, why can't speeding? I fail to see the distinction between one law and the other.