How do you get falsely accused of a DUI?
I’m just curious, for future reference. I’m definitely NOT a fan of the Revenueing Police State.
“How do you get falsely accused of a DUI?”
We were in an urban area at around 11:45 PM heading home from a late dinner downtown. We were driving on a stretch of road that was originally a 2-lane road that had been converted to 4-lanes, but without widening it. There are large, old oak trees lining it that are literally growing into the pavement. It’s tight.
There was no one on the road at the time (either direction) and my wife, not being a fantastic driver, was technically in the right lane, but didn’t like being so close to the trees so she was straddling the line.
The officer pulled us over for “failure to maintain lane.”
My wife had had one glass of wine around 8PM, but we then ate a large dinner.
The officer asked if she had been drinking and she said that she had had one glass of wine earlier.
The officer administered a road side test. He reported that she passed with flying colors.
The officer administered a breathalyzer. He reported that she showed no signs of alcohol.
He then handcuffed her and stated that he was taking her to jail for a DUI and failure to maintain lane.
I protested at this point - politely (it’s all on dash cam video) - and was thrown into the side of her car and threatened with having my arm broken.
I had not drunk anything, but the officer would not let me drive the car the remaining 200 yards to our apartment.
He left me on the side of the road after locking my cell phone inside the car and taking the keys. I walked across the street and made a collect call on what must be the last, remaining pay phone in the city. A friend came and got me and I went and paid her bail. It turns out the officer had made a detour and I actually beat him back to the station.
Bail being paid didn’t seem to matter and they kept her in a drunk tank about 6’ x 6’ for 13 hours with 5 other women as I sat in the waiting room. One of the women was masturbating on the floor when she was put in.
How do you prevent that? Do not, under any condition, ever say anything to the officer. Silence is golden.
OH, almost forgot: At trial, as I was sitting outside the court room, that officer threatened me with physical violence against saying anything against him.
No joke.
Luckily, our lawyer overheard him.
Good times.