On Sunday September 13, the driver of a NYC transit bus was arrested for DWI. Alexander Copeland, 52, was also charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle without owner’s consent, and reckless endangerment according to a recent article at the New York Post.
It all began when several commuters along the Northern State Parkway in Westbury called authorities complaining about a NYC transit bus that was driving in an erratic manner, reportedly swerving along the roadway. State police responded to the reports and pulled Copeland over just before 2:30 in the afternoon. Police claim the bus driver “reeked” of booze.
Upon administering a sobriety test it was found that Copeland’s BAC or blood alcohol concentration was 0.20 percent. This is more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
News reports indicate Sunday was Copeland’s day off, and he was not authorized to be driving the bus.
Regardless of the fact Copeland was driving a company vehicle, it is against the law to operate any vehicle with a blood alcohol level above the legal limit. Many people still continue to get behind the wheel after having a few beers or a few drinks, believing they are perfectly capable of driving. They soon find themselves facing criminal charges and in some cases life-altering penalties if convicted including potential jail time, steep fines, a suspended driver’s license, a criminal record, and most likely cases similar to this one, termination of employment.
If you have been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, do not speak with police before consulting with a highly qualified Michigan DUI defense attorney. Police are tough interrogators; you could potentially incriminate yourself even further. Your first step should be to call your lawyer; you must protect your legal rights, and have experienced legal counsel on your side in order to reach good results.