Police say that a 51-year-old New York man showed up to a meeting with a blood alcohol content three times the legal limit. He had been ordered to attend the meeting as part of a sentence on a DWI conviction. The purpose was to listen to others who had experiences with drunk drivers. The man insisted that he had not driven to the meeting on his own.
However, police reportedly saw him get into his truck and attempt to leave. Police conducted a traffic stop and and took him into custody for DWI. He was charged with aggravated felony unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in addition to aggravated DWI. The DWI charge was a misdemeanor, and the unlicensed operation charge was a felony because he was driving on a license suspended because a conviction on charge related to alcohol.
Drunk driving may have serious consequences for people whether they are caught in the act or not. However, those who are found to be impaired while operating a motor vehicle may face a variety of penalties. For instance, they may have to spend time in jail or have to pay a fine. Impaired drivers may also face additional charges if their license was suspended or revoked when taken into custody. This may result in additional consequences such as license being revoked permanently.
Those who are charged with drunk driving may wish to meet with an attorney. Doing so may make it possible to create a defense to the charge. Defenses may include asserting that a blood or Breathalyzer test gave an inaccurate result. It may also be possible to assert that a driver was experiencing a medical emergency with symptoms that mirrored those of drunkeness.
