DUI Arrest: Driver Fails Sobriety Tests, High BAC, and Prior Offense

Incident and Initial Contact

• 🚨 On August 29, 2023, a Jeep struck a stop sign at a Wendy's in Jefferson Township and fled the scene, leaving its front bumper and license plate behind.
• 🔍 Police traced the plate to Courtney in Morristown and located her vehicle at Taphouse 15, initiating a traffic stop.
• 💬 Courtney initially denied involvement in any accident that day, claiming prior damage to her vehicle.

Signs of Impairment and Failed Sobriety Tests

• 🧠 Officer Veliu observed indicators of impairment, noting Courtney's inability to recite the alphabet without singing or count backwards as instructed.
• 🚶‍♀️ She was asked to perform field sobriety exercises, including the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN), Walk and Turn, and One Leg Stand tests.
• ⚠️ Courtney failed all sobriety tests, despite claiming foot pain and medical diagnoses for anxiety and depression.

Arrest and High BAC Result

• 🚔 Based on the accident and failed tests, Courtney was placed under arrest for driving under the influence.
• 🌬️ She agreed to submit breath samples, but due to a non-functional breathalyzer in Jefferson, she was transported to Sparta Township Police Department.
• 📊 The Alcotest revealed a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of 0.31%, nearly four times the legal limit of 0.08%.

Post-Arrest Challenges and Hospital Transport

• 🚗 Her vehicle was impounded for 12 hours under John's Law following the arrest.
• ❌ Courtney was unable to find a responsible party to pick her up, as officers refused to release her to an Uber driver.
• 🏥 Due to her high BAC and concerns about a visible eye injury, officers ultimately transported her to the hospital for further evaluation.

Legal Consequences and Prior Offense

• ⚖️ Courtney was issued citations for operating under the influence, reckless driving, careless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, and failure to report an accident.
• 📅 In November 2023, she was found guilty of DUI and failure to report, resulting in an ignition interlock device for four years, 48 hours at a drunk driver school, 30 days community service, 2 days in jail, and $1,180 in fines.
• 🚨 The video notes she had a prior DWI arrest in Morristown on June 30, 2023, indicating a history of such offenses.