Humans are prone to making mistakes. Individuals can suffer lapse of judgment from time to time. When Oregon residents choose to drive after having a drink it, they risk drunk driving charges. These charges don't mean that they are bad people, just that they've made a mistake. And this mistake, like many others has serious penalties.
Recently, a 24-year-old man learned just how serious a drunk driving arrest can be. According to reports, the man was driving on Highway 101 near Brookings when he caused an accident. Police claim that an Oregon State Trooper was stopped along the highway to divert traffic around another disabled vehicle. Instead of stopping or slowing down, police say, the man rear ended the police trooper's vehicle. At the time of the accident, police claim that the vehicle's lights were on.
In the accident, the police officer and the man were injured. Both were taken to a hospital to be treated for their injuries. However, following the accident the man was charged with several criminal charges including reckless endangering of another person, assault, reckless driving and driving under the influence of intoxicants.
DUI and DUII charges in Oregon are very serious. However, even if a police officer is involved in the accident, the police still need solid evidence that a person's blood alcohol content level was in fact over the legal limit of .08 percent. In order to prove this, the police must have undertaken some sort of test. Usually this means a breath test or a field sobriety test. However, these tests can be flawed if not properly administered.
It is important that individuals who have been charged with DUI examine how these tests are performed. Even if they had been drinking before the accident, that does not automatically mean that their BAC level was above the legal limit. It is important to investigate all aspects of a DUI arrest in order to avoid serious penalties.
Source: KOIN, "OSP trooper rear-ended, injured by drunk driver," Feb. 24, 2016
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