Not all DUI incidents occur when cars are on the roadway. Drivers should be forewarned that DUI charges can be filed when a car is in a restaurant drive-thru. The man involved in the Tennessee incident also had his daughter in the vehicle at the time.
The man was in the drive-thru and allegedly had a difficult time unlocking his door to get outside of the vehicle. He also reportedly did not fare well when performing a field sobriety test. He relayed to police that he had not been drinking alcohol but had actually taken a sleeping pill. Authorities also said the man had a difficult time answering questions.
Police searched the vehicle and found a variety of items. They found Xanax and Oxycodone along with a gun that was loaded. The one-year-old child who was in the car was purportedly within reach of the gun and the medication. The father of the child was arrested and charged with DUI, drug charges and gun charges.
DUI charges in Tennessee can lead to serious criminal consequences, particularly if in conjunction with other charges. When DUI charges involve a search of a vehicle, the legality of that search can impact whether or not any items found in the search can be deemed admissible in court. Also, the results of a field sobriety test can also be challenged. Those results can be found to be subjective and can vary according to the physical issues a person may face; also, the weather and any other host of factors may impact how a person will perform the tests regardless of any level of intoxication.
Source: scrippsmedia.com, "Impaired Dad Drove With 1-Year-Old In Car", Aug. 18, 2015