No, you cannot get an OUI on a bicycle in Massachusetts. A bicycle doesn’t fit the definition of a motor vehicle under the statute. For the purposes of OUI, a bicycle simply doesn’t fit. The Massachusetts OUI law specifically applies to “motor vehicles,” and a bicycle is a mode of transportation that is powered by a person, not an engine.
However, this doesn’t mean riding a bicycle while intoxicated is consequence-free:
You could still face other charges:
Public intoxication
Disorderly conduct
Malicious destruction of property if you crash your bike into something
Protective custody by the police
Bottom line: It’s not a good idea to ride your bicycle while drunk, but that doesn’t make it illegal under Massachusetts OUI law. The key distinction is that Massachusetts OUI statutes only apply to motor vehicles, and bicycles are human-powered, not engine-powered.
