In New York, driving while intoxicated could have significant consequences, particularly if the alleged incident occurs while the accused is on the job. This is especially true if the accused is a police officer tasked with upholding the law.
A detective for the New York Police Department is facing accusations of drunk driving after transporting his partner to the hospital with a gunshot wound that the accused allegedly inflicted. A breath test initially performed at the field measured the accused’s blood alcohol concentration at 0.11. The accused later declined to submit to a breath test at the police station.
According to police, the accused and his partner were investigating a robbery in Queens. The accused was allegedly showing the hammer of his gun to his partner, when he accidentally shot the man in the wrist and then drove him to the hospital. The accused had been a member of the NYPD for 31 years; his partner, 12.
Refusing a breath test can have consequences. This is because each state, New York included, has what are known as implied consent laws. What this basically means is that in exchange for driving privileges, a person also implicitly agrees to submit to a breath test or field sobriety test should they be suspected of drunk driving. Should a person refuse a breath test, their driver’s license may be suspended, along with other penalties. For example, in New York refusing a breath test could potentially result in both a driver’s license suspension and a fine of $500.
Because of this, drivers may want to learn more about implied consent laws. Doing so may help them make an informed decision about whether or not to perform a breath test should they be accused of drunk driving.
Source: NBCNewYork.com, NYPD Detective Accused of DWI After Partner Shot in Wrist
