Drunk Sleeping Driver Wins at Motor Vehicle Administration

After becoming intoxicated my client talked to the designated driver and told the designated driver that she was going to go into the car and wait for him to drive her home. She entered her legally parked car, started the car to keep warm and was listening to the radio. She fell asleep and the next thing that she noticed was the police officer knocking on her window. She failed field sobriety tests and her breath test was .12 blood-alcohol content. The officer charged her with drunk driving and took her Maryland license.

She hired me and we requested a hearing at the motor vehicle administration to avoid a license suspension. The above facts were revealed at the motor vehicle administration. My client further testified that she had told the officer that she was waiting for her designated driver and she had no intent of driving home. Even though she was in the car, behind the steering wheel, the engine was running, the radio was on, the headlights were on, and she was legally under the influence of alcohol, the motor vehicle administration judge sided with our position, which was supported by the case law, that she was merely using the vehicle as a shelter and therefore she was not driving the vehicle as defined under Maryland law. The judge credited her honesty with the police officer-she had admitted to drinking many specific drinks. Based on that honesty the judge believed my client at the hearing.

The judge took no action, my client was able to keep her license.