A man in California was arrested for DUI after claiming to be “the DUI” during a traffic stop on New Year’s Day. According to a bodycam video released by the Murrieta Police Department, the incident occurred at 12:40 a.m. on January 1, when Officer Bridgewaters pulled over a driver for swerving across the roadway.
During the stop, the driver claimed that he was “the DUI” when asked where he was coming from. The officer corrected him, saying he likely meant to say he was the designated driver. The driver then admitted to drinking champagne and beer before agreeing to take field sobriety tests, which he nearly failed, as he struggled to stand upright multiple times.
The driver was subsequently arrested and taken to jail for driving under the influence. The incident highlights the importance of responsible driving habits, as thousands of people die each year in crashes related to driving under the influence. The Murrieta Police Department, which has a specialized traffic bureau and conducts regular sobriety checkpoints, emphasized the importance of not driving under the influence and shared the sobering statistics: 37 people die every day in America in crashes related to driving under the influence, and 13,524 people were killed in 2022 alone.
