The early hours of the morning might be considered a common time period for an individual to be suspected of a crime. For a person who has fallen asleep at the wheel of a vehicle during these hours, accusations of drunk driving may soon follow. A 26-year-old man is facing criminal charges following an alleged traffic offense involving a police officer in Illinois.
According to police, a call was placed reporting a running car that was stopped on a local road. Upon arrival, an officer claims that a man was asleep at the wheel while the vehicle wasn’t in park. The officer asserts that he moved his car in front of the other vehicle before attempting to approach the man. He claims that after placing his car in park, the man struck it and attempted to flee.
Reportedly, the man eventually adhered to an order to stop ramming the car and placed his vehicle in park before exiting. The officer claims that he exhibited signs of intoxication, but that he denied drinking alcohol or taking drugs in the hours prior to the incident. According to arresting officers, he refused to undergo field sobriety and Breathalyzer tests. This is apparently his second arrest for DUI in the past 30 days, and the other charges are still pending.
If convicted on either occasion, the man would face severe penalties. Individuals who are accused of drunk driving often find the process challenging to navigate alone, leading many to seek legal counsel for guidance. A defense attorney can assist a client in Illinois throughout the process by advising him or her on the possible consequences given the situation, and the best course of action with which to proceed.
Source: galesburg.com, “Sleeping driver arrested for DUI“, Robert Connelly, May 4, 2017
