Drunken skidoo ride ends in court

A Meribel-Alpina piste patroller was startled to find an abandoned skidoo in the Moon Park last Sunday at 3 am.

The driver of the powerful snowmobile was found to be nearby and clearly drunk; he was taken in by the gendarmes and arrested.

It turned out that the drunk driver was a seasonal employee at a mountain restaurant in Val Thorens. He had helped himself to the skidoo and by the time he crashed had travelled around 20 miles over 3 different ski areas!

He has been accused by local authorities of damaging freshly groomed pistes, disturbing local fauna that has already been under stress from the unusually harsh winter, and of risking an accident – especially if he had ridden across lift/piste machinery which would have been in his path.

The driver will be prosecuted under the criminal court in Albertville, with a trial date set for June. The law prohibits any use of motorized vehicles for recreation on the entire ski area and natural areas; the lift operating companies have also filed a complaint for damages caused to the ski tracks.

Should you wish to have a ride on a skidoo please do not nick one when you are inebriated; there are a number of local companies who can organise outings such as Snow Biker.

Source : Le Dauphiné Libéré