There are many different kinds of drunk driving arrests. Sometimes police suspect drunk driving because of erratic behavior behind the wheel, and sometimes charges follow an accident. When an accident leads to a drunk driving arrest, more severe penalties can follow. The specific drunk driving charges may change depending on if property was damaged or if people were hurt in the accident.
Recently, an accident has led to the arrest of a 25-year-old man in Southeast Portland. According to police, officers responded to reports of an abandoned car near the intersection of Harold Street and Southeast 100th Avenue at around 2:45 a.m. When they got to the location they discovered that the car - a Mitsubishi Lancer - was damaged. They claim that the damaged car had hit five parked cars and a utility pole before coming to a stop in the front yard of a nearby house. One of the cars had also hit a wall of an adjacent home.
Following this discovery, police say that they soon found and arrested the car's driver. He was charged with reckless driving, failure to perform the duties of a driver, intoxicated driving and reckless endangerment. He has since been released from Multnomah County Detention Center.
In this instance, police never saw the man driving and will need to show that he actually had an elevated blood alcohol level at the time the accident occurred. This is true in all DUI cases. The prosecutors must show that people had a BAC level over the legal limit in order for people to be found guilty. While the police use a variety of tests to check BAC level, none are completely accurate if not performed correctly. Therefore, those facing DUI charges can challenge the result of tests conducted by police and used by prosecutors in court.
Source: The Oregonian, "Man arrested in Southeast Portland after allegedly driving into parked cars, utility pole," Everton Bailey Jr., Sept. 19, 2013
No Comments
Leave a comment