[/b]Operator's ice capade on a Zamboni brings a DWI[b]

No more ice time for John Peragallo.

His Zamboni privileges at Mennen Sports Arena in Morris County were revoked after police charged him with drunken driving -- on the ice -- authorities said yesterday.

Peragallo, 63, of Randolph, was intoxicated Sunday afternoon while driving the four-ton ice-cleaning machine during a break in public skating, Morris County Park Police Lt. David Doyle said.

A concerned employee called police shortly after noon saying the Zamboni was speeding, sliding into turns and nearly crashing into the boards, while the driver wore a smile, police said.

When an officer arrived, the ice clearing was done and the Zamboni parked.

But a breath test of the operator found Peragallo had a 0.12 blood- alcohol level, above the state's 0.08 legal limit.

Peragallo got a summons and had his car keys confiscated, said Doyle, who explained a Zamboni is considered a motor vehicle, no different than a car.

If Peragallo is convicted at a July court hearing in Morris Township, he faces the loss of his driving license -- for cars or Zambonis.

Doyle, a parks system officer for parts of three decades, could not recall any similar incident at the arena in Morris Township. There have been some other odd DWI cases, not involving cars, in recent years.

Last year, for example, in Hopatcong, a 34-year-old barhopping Roxbury man was charged with drunken driving in a golf cart he had taken from a local marina.

There have been problems with intoxicated drivers of snowmobiles in some states, with 36 deaths as a result last winter in Wisconsin.

Peragallo, who could not be reached for comment yesterday, has worked for the Morris County Park Commission, which owns and operates the arena, since 1994.

He is a senior operating engineer and makes $40,083, said county officials. Commission Executive Director David Helmer declined to comment on Peragallo's case, saying it is a personnel matter.

Peragallo has been in trouble with the law before. In February, he was criminally charged in connection with a sports betting ring running out of a Wharton home for allegedly placing bets on behalf of someone else. That charge against him is still pending, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office said yesterday.

Helmer said the arena has about 10 qualified Zamboni drivers, most of whom have other jobs at the arena. Each must have a driver's license and gets special Zamboni driver training, he said.

Shit I thought this thread was about me

ella731 said:

lush

i bet he was doin drunken donuts with that thing...

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I would be too