Ok. Which one of you is this story about?

[Dale]

Thanks to Jenny Smith for sending this.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/09 ... index.html

German police nab motorist playing flute
Wednesday, September 10, 2003 Posted: 5:41 PM EDT (2141 GMT)
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BERLIN, Germany (Reuters) -- German police caught a man playing the flute with both hands as he sped through traffic at 130 kph (80 mph) on a busy highway, police said on Wednesday.

"He was leaning back in the seat and steering the car with his knees and feet," said Johann Bohnert, a spokesman for police in the town of Traunstein near the Austrian border.

"He looked like he'd had practice."

He now faces a fine of 50 euros ($56).

The 52-year-old from Salzburg in Austria, birthplace of Mozart, the composer whose works include the opera "The Magic Flute," told police he was not actually blowing the instrument.

"He said he was just practicing fingerings," said Bohnert.



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Copyright 2003 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[Jeferson]

Evidently, it's quite common for drivers to practice their fingerings while behind the wheel.

Jef

[Claus von Weiss]

He now faces a fine of 50 euros ($56).

Now that was cheap! I wonder how much playing the whistle at that speed might be (as I can't play the flute).

Tempted
Claus

[Chuck_Clark]

Well, y'gotta admit that the flute isn't as dangerous as the whistle if the airbag inflates - unless you have a side airbag.

[Rockymtnpiper]

"He looked like he'd had practice."

one would hope... :roll:

This is the kind of thing that one would go out on a country road somewhere and learn. The kind of place one might take their 12 year old to learn a wee bit of driving.. except less crowded. Just dont bring your 12 year old along, once they see this you will loose them forever.

First gear, its all right. Just a nice easy pace to start getting a feel for it. At an apropriate place in the tune, you can drop one hand to grab another gear..
2nd gear, its all right. Now your pushing 20-25 MPH. Not bad.
3rd gear, faster, faster its alright.

I know a Piper who claims to get in rather a lot of practice this way on straight boring stetches of highway.... While Driving a Semi Tractor. Not too bad, with your normal everyday one trailer set up. :roll: This guy drives a 3 trailer "train".. I wont say which company, or even what color their trucks are.

[amar]

it wasn't me!! neither was I the guy having sex while driving. *sigh*

[Charles]

The 52-year-old...told police he was not actually blowing the instrument.

"He said he was just practicing fingerings," said Bohnert.

Oh, well then, that makes me feel much better. :roll:

[unicorn]

Charles that is the best avatar I have seen yet.


I am amazed that this same thing has been posted in so many threads.

I would like to change the subject.

Did you hear about the guy who was driving while playing the flute?
I think he is Austrian.

[IDAwHOa]

Woo Hoo, #4!

[BrassBlower]

The 52-year-old...told police he was not actually blowing the instrument.

"He said he was just practicing fingerings," said Bohnert.

Oh, well then, that makes me feel much better. :roll:

Yes, I've tried it, but I never exhaled!

[Nanohedron]

...I never exhaled...

...Funny; I say that all the time.

[jeffmiester]

Yeah, I've used the "fingerings" excuse before myself.......
But seriously when I heard this on NPR this morning the first thing I thought about was it being on this board. This is just an attempt by THE MAN to keep us from whistleing.

[madguy]

I think it was Dale.

~Larry