Lack of sleep can often have surprising effects on the human body. Unfortunately, police may assume that an exhausted driver is actually under the influence of alcohol. In fact, a police officer in Texas was recently arrested because law enforcement officials believe that he was drunk driving.
Police reportedly became involved with the man when workers at a fast food restaurant notified an off-duty police officer that a driver was asleep in the drive-thru during the early morning hours of a day in October. According to workers, the man placed his order put fell asleep between the two drive-thru windows. The officer claims that he had to hit the truck window several times before the driver, later identified as a 51-year-old man who was also an off-duty police officer, awoke.
Reports indicate that the driver was instructed to drive to a parking spot to clear the drive-thru. The first officer claims that the driver smelled of alcohol in addition to having slurred speech and bloodshot eyes. The driver claims that he had been awake since early the previous morning and was on his way home to go to bed; he reportedly admitted to drinking beer with his lunch and dinner.
As a result of the incident, the Texas driver was arrested, suspected of drunk driving. Police say that he refused a breath test. Unfortunately, accusations of DWI can have serious professional and personal ramifications. As such, those facing such claims typically want an attorney with experience responding to them providing guidance as they work to determine the best response.