Man caught drunk driving claims his dog was at the wheel

[SeniorBen]

The incident occurred in Springfield, Colorado this past Saturday, a small town that USA Today reported has just 1,300 people. The unidentified man was pulled over around 11:30 p.m. for allegedly driving 52 mph in a 30 mph zone, police said in a post on Facebook. At this point, the driver "attempted to switch places with his dog who was in the passenger seat," all while the police officer "approached and watched the entire process," the post said. The driver "then exited the passenger side of the vehicle and claimed he was not driving."

The suspect showed clear signs of intoxication, police said, and began running away from the officer when asked if he had been drinking. The offender was quickly apprehended about 20 yards from his vehicle, police said.

The suspect, who police said had two arrest warrants in nearby Pueblo, told law enforcement he had gotten lost in Springfield while driving through neighboring towns. He was cleared at a nearby hospital and then booked into jail on his warrants. He was additionally handed a slew of other charges, including driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, driving while ability impaired, driving under suspension, speeding 20-24 mph over the limit, and resisting arrest, police said.

As for the dog, it was handed over to one of the driver's friends while its owner remains in jail. Thankfully, the four-legged occupant of the car won't be spending any time behind bars.

"The dog does not face any charges and was let go with just a warning," police said.
https://theweek.com/crime-and-punis...ries-avoiding-dui-by-switching-seats-with-dog

 

[jujube]

I swear that a dog might just be a better driver than some of the idiots out on the road today.

 

[Paladin1950]

 

[fuzzybuddy]

This guy claims his dog was driving???
Other nations have highend jewel thieves, international scammers and, huge stock swindles. What do we Americans have? "My dog did it" drunk driving. I'm really embarrassed at the falling level of the intelligence of American criminals. Disgusting & Embarrassing.

 

[Lee]

This is right up there with the old excuse of telling the teacher "the dog ate my homework"

 

[Jules]

This is right up there with the old excuse of telling the teacher "the dog ate my homework"

That probably was the one he used and it worked back then. Or he’s so stupid that he forgot it didn’t.

 

[officerripley]

This guy claims his dog was driving???
Other nations have highend jewel thieves, international scammers and, huge stock swindles. What do we Americans have? "My dog did it" drunk driving. I'm really embarrassed at the falling level of the intelligence of American criminals. Disgusting & Embarrassing.

It's been going on for a while too. A kind of similar case: back in the 70s, I served on a jury for a case of driving under the influence and the young man driving claimed that his passenger was really driving and they switched seats right after pulling over. We, the jury, didn't believe his story and found him guilty.

 

[Sunny]

But the big question is, was the dog sober?

 

[jujube]

There was a sad case here many years ago in which a car containing four young men hit another car, killing all the occupants of the other car. The four young men weren't seriously injured and by the time the police got there, they were all out of the car and all four denied that "he" was driving. It was "one of the others". No witnesses could identify who was driving. It WAS determined that the car the four young men were in was the car at fault in the accident.

They were sticking to their story for weeks. I don't know how the situation ended. I don't know whether they could have charged all four of them with the crime or whether they have to go for one of them specifically. As I said, I never heard the outcome. If it was up to me, I'd charge all four of them and everyone would get the same sentence. Then let THEM sort it out.

 

[jujube]

But the big question is, was the dog sober?

Well, that puts a whole 'nother spin on it, doesn't it? Was the dog wearing a seatbelt?

 

[JustBonee]

Poor dogs! ... get blamed for so much bad stuff!

 

[Rose65]

The incident occurred in Springfield, Colorado this past Saturday, a small town that USA Today reported has just 1,300 people. The unidentified man was pulled over around 11:30 p.m. for allegedly driving 52 mph in a 30 mph zone, police said in a post on Facebook. At this point, the driver "attempted to switch places with his dog who was in the passenger seat," all while the police officer "approached and watched the entire process," the post said. The driver "then exited the passenger side of the vehicle and claimed he was not driving."

The suspect showed clear signs of intoxication, police said, and began running away from the officer when asked if he had been drinking. The offender was quickly apprehended about 20 yards from his vehicle, police said.

The suspect, who police said had two arrest warrants in nearby Pueblo, told law enforcement he had gotten lost in Springfield while driving through neighboring towns. He was cleared at a nearby hospital and then booked into jail on his warrants. He was additionally handed a slew of other charges, including driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, driving while ability impaired, driving under suspension, speeding 20-24 mph over the limit, and resisting arrest, police said.

As for the dog, it was handed over to one of the driver's friends while its owner remains in jail. Thankfully, the four-legged occupant of the car won't be spending any time behind bars.

"The dog does not face any charges and was let go with just a warning," police said.
https://theweek.com/crime-and-punis...ries-avoiding-dui-by-switching-seats-with-dog

I am laughing so much. What a wonderful story.

 

[Rose65]

Poor dogs! ... get blamed for so much bad stuff!

I hope the dog sues for slander.

 

[Rose65]

Well, that puts a whole 'nother spin on it, doesn't it? Was the dog wearing a seatbelt?

Of course, he's not stupid.

 

[Rose65]

But the big question is, was the dog sober?

Surely they breathalysed him?

 

[Rose65]

This guy claims his dog was driving???
Other nations have highend jewel thieves, international scammers and, huge stock swindles. What do we Americans have? "My dog did it" drunk driving. I'm really embarrassed at the falling level of the intelligence of American criminals. Disgusting & Embarrassing.

Stop it, I'm dying laughing!

 

[Been There]

But the big question is, was the dog sober?

The police couldn’t get the dog to blow into the straw.

 

[Packerjohn]

In a "Dumb and Dumber" society such as ours, this story makes more sense then some of the other news stories I am seeing. If you ask me, why even have an education system?