Montgomery Man Drove Drunk In Aurora ... On A Tractor: Police

AURORA, IL — Just because you're operating a tractor doesn't mean you can't get charged with a DUI. A Montgomery man learned that lesson last Friday when police stopped his John Deere D110 lawn tractor in the street, police said. Ruben Garza, 50, of the 1000 block of Wellman Avenue, is facing two counts of DUI and driving without registration and operating an uninsured motor vehicle, according to a release from the Aurora Police.

Patrol officers were called to the area of Fifth Street and Ashland Avenue just before 4 p.m. Nov. 10. Witnesses said the man appeared to be drunk, looked like he was falling asleep and that he had stopped to urinate in a yard in the 400 block of Ashland Avenue. Police also said that once he got back into his tractor, he almost hit a parked vehicle and began yelling at people as he rode.

An officer told Garza to turn the tractor off around the 1100 block of Lebanon. The officer noticed slurred speech and smelled alcohol on him. Police said that upon questioning, Garza became belligerent with the officer and didn't think he could be charged with a DUI because he wasn't driving a car. The dialogue escalated when Garza swore at and threatened the officer, police said.

According to officials, Garza managed to calm down and was taken to the police station for booking. His tractor was impounded.

All charges are merely accusations. Garza remains innocent unless proven guilty in the court of law. Garza's court date is 8:30 a.m. Dec. 4 at the Kane County Judicial Center in St. Charles.

Image courtesy of Aurora Police