Asleep but still arrested
April 21, 2009 11 Comments
What do you make of this?
Washington Township police came upon a drunken woman the other night sleeping in the back seat of her parked car. She failed sobriety tests, was arrested and caused a ruckus by kicking out the windows of the police car and throwing her shoes at police. OK. That was not very smart.
But why was she charged with drunk driving when she clearly was not driving? Nor, was she in a position to drive — sleeping in the back seat. I hope she gets a good lawyer and challenges what seems to me to be an unjustified arrest.
A police spokesperson said one has to consider the entire episode, meaning, one supposes, that she likely drove the car to get to the point where she was parked. Sure, but did police see her drive the car? Probably not. DWI is a serious offense, but let’s not arrest people who are sleeping.
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She should have hid the keys,Her goose is cooked.
She will have a hard time winning this case.I do agree with you,she was not driving.So they should not have charged her. Again she should have hid the keys outside the car. Then they could not have chared her.
Let this be a warning to other drivers who have a few , but need to get off the raod.
This is another reason why people get upset with the police. They should be trying to help people not hurt them. She was not driving.
Protect and serve? Harassment is more like it.This is not right.
Where’s the humanity!?
I agree kicking out the window of a cop car is not something a girl does in her right mind….However she was sleeping off her intoxicated state in her car and was obviously not in her right mind.
She was not driving, not a danger to others on the road and Im thinking this poor woman should (but wont) get a slap on the wrist at best. This officer just had nothing better to do and provoked her violence. Its a shame he couldnt find something more productive to do with his time,
I would love to be on the jury on this case…
So, where were you? In the car.
So, you were driving? No
In the front seat? No
The car moving? No
Were you awake? No
But you were arrested for Drunk Driving!
Yes.
Not Guilty.
But here’s the cops take- if he lets her go, and she wakes up and drives, he’s
out of a job and sued. I just think he could have handled it better.
Kicking the windows of a cop car aside and show throwing (Iraqis journlist inspired no doubt!), even the good faith measure like sleeping it off in your is considered an offense in New Jersey.
You went in to your car with the keys and that’s all they need.
A good laywer might get her down to three months but since her episode, not likely.
Moral is: Call a cab. It’s cheaper than DWI and consequences like vehicular homicide, suicide and a record that haunts.
Oops, I meant shoe-throwing not show and and sleeping it off in your CAR.
We all should know that you can’t drink and drive.I often wonder how all of these nite spots stay in business?
She should have called a friend or a cab. The police are there to help us.
75% are helpful to everybody.Many others are not cut out for the job.Some can be a little mean.That is only 25%, not a bad average.Most people in law enforcement that I have met are good people. Very able overall.
Driving drunk is never a good idea.A little buzzed? Maybe.But how can you tell? Drink at home! Don’t get behind the wheel if you have had too much. Don’t do it!!!
Night owl is right about not drinking and driving, but people make mistakes. I do not know this woman. For all I know, she can be a habitual drinker.
But this also could be a one-shot deal. The bottom line was that she was sleeping in the back seat, not driving.
The stigma of a DWI is worse that killing you spouse. The MADD group will not be happy until those that walked past a bar are charged with DWI. The law is clear that if this woman had the leys to her car she had control of the car and therefore she is cooked
Drinking is ok. But too many people with emotional issues drink too much. She did not deserve to be arrested , but who is going to be on her side ? I feel bad for her .
I don’t know who will be on her side given her outburst. If anything that will do her in.