Law enforcement authorities in Florence take drunk driving cases very seriously (as they should). The impairments that set in after one has consumed alcohol can make them dangerous to others should they choose to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. Officials have a responsibility to protect the public if and when a person is indeed proven to have engaged in such reckless behavior. At the same time, authorities are also asked to understand that not every suspected DUI case is the same, and oftentimes, following what may be viewed as protocols may leave one facing charges that their actions do not warrant.
That the case of a local woman who recently had a run-in with Oconee County Sheriff’s deputies. The police received a call about a person displaying suspicious behavior, and upon arriving on the scene, encountered the woman driving while appearing to also be under the influence of either drugs or alcohol. What was unique about this particular incident was the woman’s vehicle: a motorized Power Wheels truck. The toy vehicle reportedly has a maximum speed of only 5 mph, yet still the woman was found driving down the middle of the road over a mile away from her home.
Putting the obvious humor that can be associated with this case aside, one can see why authorities would take an incident like this seriously. Even if the woman was not posing a danger to others, she was to herself (thus the decision to take her into custody). Yet cases like this may also demand the understanding of authorities (they chose to avoid DUI charges and only cite her for public intoxication). Those hoping for similar understanding from authorities in their unique cases may want to work with a defense attorney to ensure they get it.
