One Driver Way Off Course, One Way Off Base

Two citizens were arrested recently in Wauwatosa for driving while drunk.

One was seriously lost, nearly 8 miles from his destination and still headed in the opposite direction.

The other was seriously misguided in his belief that holidays are a valid excuse for driving while intoxicated – and also about the powers of police to enforce the laws.

His internal compass was skewed

At about 1 a.m. Sunday, a 20-year-old Milwaukee man was arrested for operating while intoxicated, first offense, after he was pulled over for erratic driving at North 95th Street and West North Avenue.

The patrol officer said he saw the man weaving back and forth across westbound traffic lanes and then across the centerline, causing one oncoming car to have to swerve to avoid him.

After he was pulled over, the man could not roll down his window or find his car keys in his lap, and he had vomited – yet he claimed he had drunk only “a couple of beers.”

He said he was on his way to North 28th and Beecher streets, which he said, was “just right there,” pointing to the west.

He could not perform most of the steps of a field sobriety test. Because he had vomited, no breath test was contemplated, and he was taken to Wisconsin Heart Hospital for a mandatory blood draw.

Taking a holiday from his senses

At 5 p.m. May 28, a 46-year-old Milwaukee man was arrested for drunken driving, first offense, after he passed an oncoming marked motorcycle at 50 mph in a 30-mph zone in the 7400 block of West Center Street.

The officer turned around to follow and then saw the man run a red light and turn sharply onto North 68th Street, where she pulled him over for the traffic violations.

He smelled of alcohol and was slurring his words, the officer said. He admitted he'd had a few drinks because, he said, “It’s a holiday, and of course I was drinking. That’s what people do.”

When told that his license plates did not match his vehicle registration, he said he knew that.

But when the officer removed his rear plate – which is standard police procedure – he charged out of the car and began to curse her for it, yelling over and over “Why did you take my (expletive) plates?” and refusing multiple requests to get back into his car.

He too failed field sobriety tests and was taken for a mandatory blood draw.