Wrong-way driver charged with DUI
A 28-year-old woman who allegedly drove the wrong way on an Arizona freeway and almost struck a police vehicle on the night of May 12 has been charged with drunk driving and endangerment. Initial media reports do not indicate if she has been released from custody. Toxicology tests performed after the woman’s arrest are said to have revealed her blood alcohol concentration to be .152% and .153%. Drivers in Arizona are considered intoxicated when they get behind the wheel with a BAC of .08% or higher.
DPS trooper almost struck
The chain of events that led to the woman being charged began at approximately 10:45 p.m. This is when an Arizona Department of Public Safety trooper says that he saw a vehicle moving against the flow of traffic on the northbound lanes of the South Mountain Freeway near Interstate 10 in Phoenix. The trooper claims that the vehicle did not reduce speed as it approached him and almost struck his marked DPS cruiser. When the trooper managed to initiate a traffic stop, he says that he noticed the odor of alcohol on the woman’s breath and clothing.
Woman allegedly admits to drinking and driving
The woman allegedly told the trooper she was aware that she was driving the wrong way and was looking for a suitable place to turn around. She is also said to have admitted to drinking at her boyfriend’s home in Peoria before getting behind the wheel. The trooper says that this admission along with the smell of alcohol prompted him to take the woman into custody for DUI.
The importance of remaining silent when questioned by police
The Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution gives individuals who are being questioned by law enforcement the right to remain silent. If you are pulled over by the police and the officer involved suspects that you are driving under the influence of alcohol, an experienced criminal defense attorney may advise you to avail yourself of this right and make no admissions until you have talked to an attorney. Confessions or false or misleading statements will rarely improve the situation, and they might make it more difficult for your attorney to negotiate a favorable plea agreement.
