LI Woman Drove Almost 3X Legal BAC Limit On Sunrise Highway: Sheriff

ISLIP, NY — An Deer Park driver was arrested and charged on Tuesday night, after officers determined her to be almost three times over the legal blood alcohol limit, Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon said.

At about 11:21 p.m., a 50-year-old woman was driving a vehicle on Sunrise Highway in Islip.

Deputies observed her failing to maintain her lane of travel by swerving over the lines, and separating the lanes of travel on both sides several times.

Officials then stopped the vehicle and performed a standardized field sobriety test.

The woman was then arrested and taken to 100 Center Drive, Riverhead, where she submitted to a chemical breath test resulting in a .22% BAC, officials said.

In New York State, a BAC of 0.18 and higher results in charges of aggravated driving while intoxicated. A second offense within 10 years upgrades the charges from a misdemeanor to a class E felony, with a minimum $1,000 fine, up to 4 years in jail, and a minimum 18-month driver’s license revocation.

“We have a zero-tolerance policy for drinking and driving in Suffolk County. Rest assured, our DWI Enforcement Team is out nightly looking for impaired drivers," said Toulon. "This motorist was nearly 3x over the legal limit and was so intoxicated she could have killed or seriously injured other drivers or herself. I thank these highly trained Deputies for their vigilance and for keeping Suffolk County’s roadways safe.”