A Maryland woman must return to prison after setting off the ignition interlock device in her car multiple times. A judge ordered her to serve 16 more years for a fatal 2009 drunk-driving crash.
The 42-year-old woman, who lives in Montgomery County, had been charged with killing two construction workers who were driving home from work. She rear-ended their pickup as she was driving to Virginia, sending the vehicle over a guard rail, and fled. Police apprehended her when she eventually drove into a tree.
Although she was sentenced to 30 years behind bars for manslaughter, as well as leaving the scene, 20 of those years were suspended, and she served just four. She also eventually got her driver's license back, with the requirement that she have an ignition interlock device installed in her vehicle. She reportedly set it off no fewer than 10 times, making the vehicle inoperable.
The woman argued that the device was actually registering Altoids on her breath rather than alcohol. The judge, however, called that "nonsense." The prosecutor said that it's an urban myth that mints can cause a false positive.
The woman's attorney argued that rather than reinstate part of her suspended sentence, the judge should order that she be treated for alcohol abuse. The judge, however, said that keeping her off the road was a public safety issue because the woman "can't control her conduct."
Even after people serve their time in prison, they often are on probation or have other court-ordered requirements with which they must abide. Your attorney can explain those to you thoroughly to help ensure that you are able to remain free and don't find yourself in further legal jeopardy.
Source: WUSA 9, "Judge rejects Altoid defense in drunk driving case," Bruce Leshan, Oct. 26, 2017