According to a recent news feature from NBC News, a man in Washington, DC has been arrested for drunk driving after he allegedly drove his car through a locked metal gate on White Ferry and ended up in the Potomac River.
Authorities say the accident occurred around 1:30 in the morning. They were called after a late-night caretaker at the Crossing said he heard screams coming from the end of the pier along the banks of the Potomac River. When the caretaker made his way down to the waterfront, he saw that the man had managed to get out of his car, but he was still in the water. This caretaker immediately went into the water to help the man out and called 911.
When Washington, DC Metropolitan Police (MPD) arrive on the scene of what appeared to be a drunk driving car accident, they immediately became concerned that he had been driving his vehicle under the influence of alcohol and proceeded to interview the man and conduct a series of standardized field sobriety tests (SFTSs). After MDP determined this man failed the SFTS based upon the sole opinion of MPD officers, he was placed under arrest for drunk driving and taken down to the police station to be booked and processed. He was charged with a DUI and other related infractions, including several moving violations, which are technically civil offenses.
First, it is important to note that this man has merely been accused of drunk driving in Washington, DC and has not been convicted of any offenses in connection with his recent car accident. He is therefore presumed innocent unless and until he is found guilty in a court of law, and there is often a lot an experienced DC drunk driving lawyer can do to avoid a conviction. However, as the facts of every situation are different, and you should speak with your attorney about your actual DC DUI case.
Another thing to keep in mind is that there are lot of reasons a person might “fail” the standardized field sobriety tests, and those reasons may have nothing to do with intoxication. For example, a man who was in a serious car accident in which his car flew off an elevated roadway and landed upside down in a river might not be so good at standing on one foot and taking a balance test, as required by the one legged stand (OLS) test.
It is important to remember that if you have been arrested for drunk driving in Washington, DC, it does not mean that you will be convicted. There is often a lot that our trial attorneys can do to prevent you from getting convicted, but it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible. Some people wait until the day before court, and, while that doesn’t mean it’s too late, the sooner we are able to start an investigation, the better the chances of a successful outcome.
If you or a loved one have been arrested for Misrepresentation of Age or Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, call Scrofano Law, PC at 202-946-5783 and ask for attorney Christopher J. Mutimer.
Additional Resources:
Man Charged With DUI After Driving Car Off White’s Ferry, September 30, 2016, NBC News
