Driving while intoxicated can carry some serious ramifications for the offender. A person who is caught driving with a blood alcohol content level above the legal limit may end up facing penalties that include license suspension and jail time. If individuals drink and drive while on the job, they could end up losing their jobs as well, especially if that job involves driving and public safety. Facing a drunk driving charge requires a thorough understanding of both legal rights and potential consequences.
A recent news story reports that a 39-year-old volunteer ambulance driver in New Jersey was arrested on Feb. 20 for allegedly responding to a work call while intoxicated. Police claim the man passed his stop, which led them to believe that something might be wrong.
According to police, the man had a blood alcohol content 0.08, but there is no indication of how they arrived at that number, which is exactly the line of being considered too intoxicated to drive.
The officer on the scene reported that he smelled alcohol coming from the ambulance driver. However, the driver allegedly refused a field sobriety test, which is his right. The officer reportedly looked at the driver’s eyes for indication of intoxication and then arrested him on several charges, including driving while under the influence of alcohol. No indication has been given as to whether he will be able to continue to volunteer if he is convicted.
So far, there is not a lot of information to go by. Police have given no solid evidence that the ambulance driver was drunk. They will have more to prove in court.
Source: metro.us, “New Jersey ambulance driver responds to emergency call drunk,” Tommy Rowan, Feb. 21, 2013
