27 Jul Man refuses alcohol breath test when pulled over in New York
The Port Authority Police in Staten Island arrested a man who appeared disoriented and intoxicated after he refused to cooperate with their attempt to conduct a field sobriety test. A police sergeant said that he witnessed the 26-year-old man driving a 2013 Dodge Durango eastward in the westbound off ramp for Goethals Road North.
The vehicle continued eastbound on the westbound side of the Staten Island Expressway. A construction project for the Goethals Bridge had this portion of the road closed, and the vehicle passed through traffic cones on this route. Police eventually pulled the man over near the West Shore Expressway off ramp.
According to the police report, the driver exited the Durango but had to keep a hand on the vehicle to steady himself. He allegedly spoke with slurred speech and then lost his balance. The man did not allow law enforcement to give him a breath test to measure his blood alcohol level. After his arrest, authorities charged him with driving while intoxicated and impaired.
Although drunk driving is a common criminal offense, a conviction could result in high fines, jail time and the loss of a driver’s license. An attorney who represents criminal defendants could help a person in this situation understand courtroom procedures and options for a defense. A person could ask an attorney for advice before responding to questions in court. An attorney might also engage a prosecutor in a negotiation for a plea deal that might reduce charges and include a lenient sentence. In some cases, an attorney might find flaws in the administration of a sobriety test and get the results removed from evidence.