Intoxicated Driver Instantly Regrets Lying About Drinking When The Breathalyzer Comes Out

In the early morning hours of February 18, 2024, a law enforcement officer initiated a traffic stop after a silver 2017 Chevrolet Sonic failed to halt at a posted stop sign. Upon making contact with the driver, the officer noted a strong odor of intoxicants emanating from the vehicle's interior. Although the driver initially denied consuming any alcohol, they later admitted to having one drink at a local bar around midnight. The officer requested that the driver exit the vehicle to perform voluntary field sobriety tests on a level, paved sidewalk. During the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test, the officer observed four out of six clues of impairment. The driver also exhibited four out of eight clues during the walk-and-turn test, including stopping counting during the exercise and turning incorrectly, as well as one clue during the one-leg stand where they failed to look at their toe as instructed. Following these observations, a preliminary breath test yielded a reading of 0.132. The driver was placed under arrest for driving under the influence and transported to the local police department for processing, where they were given the opportunity to speak privately with an attorney. After the mandatory observation period, two evidentiary breath samples were provided, resulting in readings of 0.128 and 0.129. The case ultimately concluded on September 6, 2024, when the driver pleaded guilty to the DUI charge. The court sentenced the driver to 364 days in jail with all but one day suspended, which could be converted to electronic home monitoring, alongside two years of supervised probation, a ninety-day license suspension, and $1,600 in fines.

These charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
An arrest is not a finding of guilt: that’s something for a court to decide.